Traffic slows down in Kolkata and Haldia docks

18 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 18 MARCH: Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) and Kolkata Dock System (KDS) under Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) have reported a dip in traffic handling by around eight per cent during the period April-February due to fall in cargo handling of crude, iron ore and coking coal. 
The fall in traffic at KoPT is the highest among the East Coast Ports and it is far behind the national average of less than one per cent.
According to the reports of Indian Ports Association, traffic handled at KDS and HDC during April to February in 2012 has been recorded as 11,142 metric tons and 28,623 metric tons respectively while it was 11,584 metric tons and 31,611 metric tons during the same period in 2011.
Losses in monetary terms are yet to be assessed, a senior port officer said, adding “the traffic handling during the period April-February this year has decreased by 9.45 per cent and 3.82 per cent at HDC and KDS respectively as compared to 2011”.
This fall in KoPT traffic is attributable to fall in navigable draft at Haldia port. As the navigability of the Hooghly river near Haldia port continues to be a matter of concern for the dock authorities several industrial units, particularly power houses and steel plants in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand that depends on Haldia for importing coal, have now opted for Paradip to meet their requirements, at least partially.
Owing to the low draft, more ships are being called at the Haldia dock with lower parcel loads which means that for loading and unloading the same volume of cargoes more ships will be needed. This in turn increases congestion and the consequent pre-berthing detention of vessels.
Apart from KoPT, the ports which suffered losses include Mormugao, Chennai, Paradip and Mumbai. 
“India is the world’s third-largest iron ore exporter. Ports are dependent on cargo and iron ore contributes significantly to their business. Iron ore exports have witnessed a negative growth, following duty hike in the Budget and a slew of events, including the ban on exports of the raw material from Karnataka since July 2010, following allegations of widespread illegal mining. Production of iron ore in around 45 mines in Goa has also been shutdown due to environmental reasons. An informal export ban is also in place in Odisha,” said a port official.
“The KoPT, which was set to implement transloading facility for large ships carrying coal and other materials, has not been able to materialise the project yet. Transloading involves double handling of cargo. This means unloading cargo from big ships, which can’t come to Kolkata or Haldia because of their low depths, to smaller ships which will carry cargo to the ports,” the official said.