The coal traffic at NMPT has been steadily increasing

The coal traffic at NMPT has been steadily increasing

Mangalore Today

MANGALORE: Jan.18: Merchant vessel Ikan Kurau, laden with 83,751 tonnes of coking coal, has arrived at the New Mangalore Port.

According to an NMPT press release, the discharge operation is on at the port using two harbour mobile cranes. The Bellary-based Jindal Group is the consignee of the cargo, which has been imported from Australia. The vessel, which arrived here on January 15, discharged 30,271 metric tonnes of coal the next day, the highest quantity of coal ever handled on a single day.

The coal traffic at NMPT has been steadily increasing over the past five years. The port handled 3.15 lakh tonnes of coal in 2004-05. It increased to 19.29 lakh tonnes during 2008-09. The port handled 19.22 lakh tonnes of coal till December-end, against 15.79 lakh tonnes handled during the corresponding period last year. It has recorded a growth rate of 21.69 per cent.

P. Tamilvannan, Chairman of the NMPT, is said to have attributed the steady growth to the infrastructure created at the port such as development of a deep draft berth, deployment of two harbour mobile cranes, construction of new railway lines inside and outside the port, concreting of roads inside the wharf area, efficient management and manpower.