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Kolkata , Nov. 5

VISAKHA Container Terminal Private Ltd , the joint venture firm currently engaged in the operation and maintenance of Visakhapatnam port's container terminal, has firmed up arrangements for the import of more handling equipment for the terminal.

Come January, the terminal will place orders with Japanese firms for two rail mounted quay cranes for delivery in July/August. With the installation of these two cranes, the total number of such cranes in the terminal will rise to four. Once third and fourth cranes have been installed, the terminal will place orders for four rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).

Right now, work is in progress for installing two RTGs. These cranes, also acquired in Japan, are currently on way to Visakhapatnam. Thus the acquisition of four more RTGs will push up the total number to six.

The two rail mounted cranes, already been installed and in operation, have cost the comp $ 6 million while the two RTGs to be installed shortly would cost another $1.6 million.

A spokesman for Vizag terminal told Business Line that the proposed acquisition of modern container handling equipment, when completed, would help the terminal handle higher capacity container vessels, up to 4500-teu capacity vessels. Right now, the terminal can handle up to 3000-teu capacity vessels.

The installation of more handling equipment in the terminal, as he pointed out, had become imperative in view of more and more shipping lines and importers showing interest in Visakhapatnam port in preference to Jawaharlal Nehru port to route their north Indian bound imported containers. The shipping lines and the importers now seemed convinced that the pendency problem afflicting JNPT was not going to ease soon.

On Wednesday, a rake with 45 imported containers left Visakhapatnam port's container terminal for Tughlakabad inland container depot (ICD). This was the second such rake to move on the route. The indication is that henceforth there will be one rake moving out of the terminal every 10 days or so. American President Line is playing a key role in this regard. The prospect of north Indian exports being routed through Visakhapatnam too appears to be bright though it might take a few more weeks for the movement to start. Meanwhile, firm indication is available from Nagpur for export of soyameal through the Visakha container terminal.

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