India

Kolkata Port opens bids to build, operate, transfer 1.6 million TEU

KOLKATA Port Trust (KoPT) floats request for qualification (RFQ) next month since an earlier project cost for construction of a container terminal at Diamond Harbour dock system doubled, reported India 's Business Standard.

The project cost first stood at INR5 billion (US$117.2 million dollars) rose to INR11.7 billion with revision by the committee under chairman PVK Mohan to run in one single phase rather than in two phases.

Committee recommendation to KoPT for a terminal to handle container and dry bulk cargo is in direct response to massive containerisation of cargo, and an increase of 50 per cent of all cargo containerised globally.

KoPT's chairman, Mr Anup Chanda said the container terminal will be built by private-public partnership on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Capacity handling will be up to 1.6 million TEU but is anticipated to hit 1.1 million TEU in its first year running

Chennai congestion prompts August container tariff hike despite protests

INDIA 'S second-busiest container port is set to increase its tariffs by 10 per cent from next month until the end of 2009, according to The Hindu newspaper.

The port, run by Dubai Ports World, handled 1.1 million TEU in 2007. It is one of 12 central government-owned ports that have tariffs overseen by Tariff Authority for Major Ports. The hike was supported by DP World, which has been seeking a 14 per cent tariff for the Chennai facility.

Chennai Ennore Port Steamer Agents Association said congestion and rising volume at the port should have brought about a tariff reduction rather than an increase, reported American Shipper.

"There are frequent disruption of services and congestion in CCTL," the ship owners association said. "The shipping lines do not get any benefit of the efficiency gain claimed by CCTL.

"The volumes at CCTL have considerably increased, but this is not accompanied by any tariff reduction. Increased tariff burden should not be imposed on the trade. In fact, there is a case for reduction in tariffs."