Tuticorin port achieves govt target, moved 36.08 million tonnes cargo in 2019-20
During the financial year 2019-2020, V O Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin handled cargo traffic of 36.08 million tonnes cargo and 8.04 lakh TEUs against the previous year's 34.34 million tonnes, registering an increase of 5.05%
Tuticorin port in 2019: Cargo- 36 million tonnes, TEUs- 8 lakh, Ship calls- 1447, Operating income- Rs 625 crore.
April 6, 2020: During the financial year 2019-2020, V O Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin handled cargo traffic of 36.08 million tonnes cargo and 8.04 lakh TEUs against the previous year's 34.34 million tonnes, registering an increase of 5.05%.
The port has achieved the 36.00 million tonnes target set by the ministry of shipping.
Import vs Export
The imports have accounted for 25.82 million tonnes (71.57 percent) and exports accounted for 10.25 Million Tonnes (28.41 percent) and Transhipment accounted for 0.01 Million Tonnes (0.02 percent).
TEUs
The port has registered it’s highest ever record throughput of 8.03 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in the year 2019-20 clocking a growth of 8.72 percent over previous year's container traffic of 7.39 Lakh TEUs.
During the financial year 2019-2020, the Port has handled 36.08 Million Tonnes of cargo against the previous year's achievement of 34.34 Million Tonnes, registering an increase of 5.05%. pic.twitter.com/dsYKTc1lYy
— VOC PORT TRUST, Tuticorin (@vocporttrust) April 6, 2020
Cargoes that shown increase
When compared to the financial year 2018-19, cargoes that have shown considerable increase are containerised cargo 8.72 percent (8.03 lakh TEUs), industrial coal 29.54 percent (60.12 lakh tonnes), cattle feed 225.40 percent (2.97 lakh tonnes), sulphuric acid 79.44 percent (4.63 lakh tonnes) and rock phosphate 32.84 % (5.44 lakh tonnes).
In the year 2019-20, there were 1447 ship calls in the port, increase by 5.62 percent from the 1370. ship calls during the financial year 2018-19.
Financial performance
V.O.Chidambaranar Port’s operating income amounted to Rs 625.08 crore during 2019-20 as against Rs 519.50 crore during the previous year and the operating surplus Rs 375.75 crore as against Rs 252.34 crore in 2018-19. The net surplus after tax was Rs 161.05 crore as against Rs 45.13 crores.
"The operating ratio of 39.89 percent is one the best among the Indian major ports, " says the release.
Converting 9th berth into a container terminal
The port has initiated proposals for two public-private partnership projects, conversion of 9th berth as container terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 438.61 crore and mechanisation of NCB-III for handling dry bulk cargo at an estimated cost of Rs 269.06 crore.
Road widening
Works are underway at a cost of Rs 41.55 crore for the project ‘widening the existing Korampallam surplus course bridge and rail over bridge including widening of the existing road’. The port is also in the process of installing ‘Drive through Container scanner’ at a cost of Rs 46.25 crore.
Fire fighting system
Port is also in the process of revamping the fixed fire fighting system at a cost of Rs 17.49 crore and commissioning 5 MLD capacity desalination plant at an estimated cost of Rs 143 crore.
Solar plants
"As a trendsetter among major ports of the country in adopting an integrated Green Energy Port Model, the Port has issued orders for installation of 140 KW Rooftop solar power plant and 5 MW ground-based solar power plant, " says the release.
Tuticorin - SPEEDZ
The port has also identified 702 acres of land for setting up of port-based industries (Tuticorin - SPEEDZ). In Phase-I, tenders were invited for allotment of 275 acres of land of which 2 bidders have expressed interest for setting up of edible oil refineries.
