Cargo handling at Gujarat's non-major ports up 14%

Cargo handling at Gujarat's non-major ports saw a13.71 per cent growth during April-November 2010 over the corresponding period last year.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) informed that the total cargo handled registered a growth of 13.71 per cent at 149.51 million tonnes in April-November 2010 compared to 131.49 million tonnes handled in April-November 2009.

The non-major ports in Gujarat have a cargo handling capacity of 244 million tonnes per annum of which GMB ports handled 206 million tonnes of cargo in the fiscal year 2009-10.

"We achieved the record growth of 13.70 % in cargo handling over the preceding year and nation’s major ports registered only 1.70% growth. Gujarat’s vibrant ports are leading to new heights of achievements,” said Pankaj Kumar, chief executive officer and vice chairman, GMB. The traffic at Sikka Port was up from 65.93 million tonnes to 76.53 million tonnes, showing a growth of 16 per cent, traffic at Bedi has increased from 14.21 million tonnes to 15.21 million tonnes, up 7 per cent, while at Magdalla port traffic increased from 10.49 million tonnes to 11.80 million tonnes, showing a growth of 13 per cent. The traffic Dwarka port achieved a growth of 14 per cent during the period. Meanwhile, Mundra (new) port showed robust improvement in cargo handling as the traffic at the port grew at 21.64 per cent over last year.

Total 5375 ships have been recycled and 37.57 million MT LDT steel have been generated since its inception at ship recycling yard.

Total port volume at the 12 major ports witnessed a marginal growth of 1.70% year to year for the April – October 2010 period compared with the same period in 2009.

GMB - Gujarat Non major Ports have variety of cargo handling which is unique in the country. The area of traffic handled at GMB non-major ports include container terminals, LNG terminals, dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo terminals, SPM - fast liquid cargo handling terminals, car terminals, Ro-Ro type terminals – terminals for handling of Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC), deep water berths/jetties, shipbuilding yard etc