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The container business in India is growing at a brisk
clip, as importers and exporters are increasingly shifting
away from general cargo. Containerised traffic is growing
by almost 20 per cent annually, nearly double the global
average. Container traffic is expected to double to 110
million tonnes in just less than five years. According
to Mr.Sabyasachi Hajara, chairman, Shipping Corporation
of India (SCI), the container business is expected to
grow at an average rate of 18 per cent in the next decade.
Container traffic growth has also provided impetus to
the development of maritime transport and the logistics
industry sector in the country, with the emergence of
private-public partnerships and several new private ports
and terminals for provision of port and other cargo handling
facilities. The gantry cranes that load and unload container
ships can be 430 feet tall and weigh up to 2,000 tons
Growing containerization of cargo have brought about a
significant redefinition of organization of port terminal
services and demand for highly sophisticated handling
equipment and inland logistics capabilities and service
efficiencies. Large scale projects such as the development
of large container terminals need to be also rated with
hinterland connectivity projects to provide for seamless
movement of cargo.
Overall impact of the Indian government’s port development
policy in over last one decade, especially with respect
to privatisation of ports has been immediate and quite
remarkable in the container terminal operations segment
of the Indian port sector. In keeping with the global
trend of privatisation of port terminal operations, the
Indian port sector has seen significant level of participation,
from several internationally renowned container terminal
operators.
Among the significant international players that have
been involved in the Indian ports sector include P&O
Ports (Australia), Port of Singapore (PSA), Dubai Port
Authority, Maersk Logistics along with domestic ones.
There has been significant investment on BOT basis by
foreign players including Maersk (JNPT, Mumbai) and P
& O Ports (JNPT, Mumbai and Chennai), Dubai Ports
International (Cochin and Vishakhapatnam) and PSA Singapore
(Tuticorin). Besides several minor port locations are
being developed by domestic and international private
investors as container ports. Pipavav Port by Maersk and
Mundra Port by Adani Group (with a terminal operated by
P & O), Gangavaram under construction by Consortium
lead by DSV Raju are among some of these.
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The Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways,
Mr T.R. Balu, met Mr Jong Hwan Chung, the Korean Minister
for Land Transport and Maritime Affairs, and apprised
him of the massive $ 21-billion National Maritime Development
Programme (NMDP) and the $ 50-billion National Highways
Development Project (NHDP) being implemented by the Union
government.
During the meeting, Mr Balu emphasised that these ambitious
infrastructure projects offered immense opportunities
to Korean investors and logistics companies too.
The Minister apprised him of the possible areas of cooperation
like with the Indian Maritime University and participation
in the construction of shipyards.
Mr Chung showed interest in participating in the port
developmental projects through the $ 1-billion infrastructure
fund
of Korea.
Mr Balu invited Mr Chung to visit India pointing out that
an international seminar could be organised to inform
the Korean companies of the opportunities available, particularly
in the shipbuilding sector.
Mr Balu was in Korea to attend the naming ceremonies of
two Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessels.
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), Mumbai
office, will showcase the strengths of Korea’s shipping
and marine industry at the “Port & Ship International
India 2008” exhibition scheduled on October 23-25
at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon. Kotra will have
a “Korea Pavilion” where 9 leading Korean
companies will showcase their products.
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The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) is looking at
consolidation and ex-panding its presence in rail logistics,
according to Mr B. B. Pattanaik, its newly-appointed Chairman
and Managing Director (CMD).
Mr Pattanaik assumed charge last month after the superannuation
of Mr N. K. Choubey, the previous CMD.
IndiaLinx, the container train service being run by India
Infrastructure & Logistics, has begun services to
Mundra Port with the maiden run being flagged off from
the inland container depot (ICD) at Loni recently.
India Infrastructure is a joint venture between Singapore-based
APL and India’s HIPE.
This will be a weekly service, the transit time being
60 hours in each direction, a company statement explained.
Launched in May last year, IndiaLinx has been offering
services, six per week, between ICD-Loni and Jawaharlal
Nehru Port (JNP).
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