Chennai, Oct 27: Port of Pipavav, which has a natural draft of 9.5 metres is to be dredged to 13.5 metres. The work is to begin early next year, according to Manish Ojha, managing director of Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd (GPPL). With the increased draft the port will be able to receive vessels up to 90,000 dwt.Another major development for the first private sector port in the country, is the likely operationalisation of a container freight station close to it from early December.
Started in 1996 by Seaking Engineers Infrastructure Ltd, Bombay, Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd entered into a strategic alliance with the PSA Corporation of Singapore. The Bombay group now holds more than 50 per cent equity of the port. PSA has 26 per cent stake, the Common Wealth Development Corporation holds eight per cent and the rest is shared by the financial institutions including IDBI.
The port has dedicated terminals for bulk, break bulk and containerised cargo and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquid cargo. Soon it will have a conveyor system for the handling of bulk cargo.
The liquid cargo jetty is connected to the storage area by pipelines. It is also planning to have an LNG terminal. Bharat Shell has set up LPG storage facilities at the port.
``We are in talks with IOC, Friends group of Gujarat and Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd for setting up storage facilities here'', Ojha said.
PoP will construct three more berths by the end of 2001 and expand the warehousing space and open storage area.
Ojha was in Chennai to participate in the international logistics seminar and exhibition being organised by CII.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.