India’s largest container port overcame global trade slowdown

Container throughput at India’s Port of Jawaharlal Nehru rose by 2.8 percent compared with the previous year in fiscal 2009-10 ended March 31, despite the slowdown in world trade.

The west coast hub handled 4.06 million 20-foot equivalent units during the fiscal year, up from 3.95 million TEUs in 2008-09, the port authority said in a statement.

Gateway Terminals, Nehru’s third terminal operated by A.P. Moller-Maersk, topped volume at 1.75 million TEUs, followed by DP World-managed Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal, 1.53 million TEUs, and the state-owned terminal, 0.78 million TEUs.

Total tonnage increased 6 percent to 60.75 million tons from 57.3 million tons a year earlier.

 “A number of port development and infrastructure augmentation projects are in different stages of implementation. These include the acquisition of four super post-Panamax rail-mounted quay cranes, and development of a 4-million-TEU fourth container terminal and 330-meter berth extension project,” said S.S. Hussain, port chairman, releasing the latest traffic data.

Officials said of the four new cranes, one is expected to be delivered in November and the rest by March next year. Port management is also awaiting approval from the Shipping Ministry for the purchase of three additional gantry cranes costing about $26 million.

They also said the planned dredging project will help the port accommodate 6,000-TEU vessels with drafts up to 14 meters.

Nehru is India’s largest container port, moving nearly 60 percent of the country’s total containerized traffic.

Source: JOC