HDC to mechanise berths despite financial risks

14 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 14 OCT: At a time when the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has failed to resolve the crisis at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), it has deliberately taken up plans to mechanise all the berths by placing Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) which will put the port in huge financial losses.
If things go according to plan, the KoPT will lose to the tune of Rs 320 crore in 10 years for the mechanisation of berth 4B at HDC. If mechanisation takes place at all the remaining six berths only with mobile harbour cranes as proposed and approved in the board of trustee meeting held on 12 August, KoPT will stand to lose around Rs 1920 crore during the contract period of 10 years. This apart, around 1,200 port employees who are engaged in onboard operations at HDC will also lose their jobs.
The process to mechanise berth 4B had already been initiated by the management with two MHCs from Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT), an ABJ-LDA joint venture which was empowered to operate handling operation at berths 2 and 8. The process had to be put on the back-burner due to the crisis that developed over the dispute of cargo sharing among the private handlers.
The KoPT was forced to call meetings with all the stakeholders, but the situation has not improved.
The port authorities in the meantime have formed a three-member committee to resolve the dispute, but the committee has recently given a deadline to the HBT to decide whether it wants to continue its operations at berths 2 and 8.
“If the company fails to comment on the recommendations of the three-member committee or resume work at the two berths by 19 October, the port may take steps to terminate its contract,” a port officer said.
Criticising the port’s actions, Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum said: “The ABG Model being the most profitable for HDC/KoPT, the same should be replicated while mechanising other berths here. For example, while mechanising berth 4B, the ABG model should be followed for maximum realisation to port.”
Mr Ramakant Burman, secretary of Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum said: “In whose interest is KoPT doing this mechanisation? As a result of this, more than 1,000 port workers who work onboard the vessel will permanently lose their job. Neither the port will earn anything from it.”
He also said: “Trade saves Rs 20 lakh per day for handling of their vessel at berths 2 and 8 and the port earns on an average Rs 35 lakh per vessel for the cargo handled at these two berths. There is also no drainage of foreign exchange in terms of demurrage on the vessels for working for four days at the non-merchanised berths of HDC.”