Kolkata port has
handled a Capesize vessel requiring a draft of `17.21 meters draft with dry
bulk cargo last week.
M.V. Samjohn Solidarity, a Capesize
vessel with dry bulk cargo called at Anchorage carrying 1,64,928 MT of coal on
account of Adani Enterprises Ltd and anchored at Sand heads on October seventeenth
morning.
The vessel, with
LOA of 292 metres, beam of 45 metres and draught of 17.21 metres, discharged
around 1 lakh MT of Coal onto barges with the help of two floating cranes. She
commenced discharge on October 18 using one floating crane, after completion of
draught survey and Customs related formalities according to port press
release.
The discharge
continued using two floating cranes and by 06:00 hours on October 20 a quantity
of 27,795 MT had been shifted to the barges. The barges will be brought to the
floating jetty at Haldia where the cargo will be finally discharged. The vessel
is expected to complete the discharge one lakh tons of coal at Sandheads by
October 27th. The vessel will then proceed to Paradip to discharge
her remaining cargo.
Mr Vinit Kumar,
Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust congratulated the officers and staff of KoPT, and
the trade partners for this great achievement.
He pointed out that
due to draught and lock restriction, the port cannot take bigger vessels in the
docks. The normal parcel size is 30,000 tonnes, while the Capesize vessel brought
1,00,000 tonnes of coal cargo i.e. three times more in one go. The increased
volumes through a single vessel thereby reduced the cost to the trade .
Mr Kumar further
said that despite all odds and challenges in the trade, Kolkata Port Trust,
including KDS and HDC, could be sustained due to unflinching customer support
over the years as well as through strategic planning and marketing drive, the
release added.
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