It is reported that unlikely partnerships have emerged in the bidding process for a USD 305 million container terminal facility at the Ennore Port in Tamil Nadu, with companies determined to stay in the race till the final lap.

As of May 20th 2008, the last date for submission of initial bids, 22 entities have applied for building the facility. The bidders are as follows
1) International Container Terminal Services of Philippines
2) DP World consortium with IDFC Projects
3) PSA International consortium with ABG Infralogistics
4) Sical Logistics consortium with Macquarie Group
5) NYK Line consortium with Hyundai Merchant Marine
6) Mundra Port SEZ consortium with Neptune Orient Lines
7) GVK Power Infrastructure consortium with Mitsui & Company
8) Vedanta Resources consortium with Eurogate GmbH
9) IL&FS Limited consortium with Punj Lloyd and Pembinaan Redzai
10) Larsen and Toubro consortium with John Keells Holdings
11) Lanco Infratech consortium with JSW Infrastructure and Logistics
12) Terminal Investment consortium with Samsung Heavy Industries, Shipping Corporation of India, Concor, CWC and Hind Terminals
13) Vadinar Oil Terminal consortium with Essar Shipping Ports & Logistics and Wan Hai Lines
14) Saqr Port Authority consortium with RAK
15) IMC consortium with ITD Cementation India and Srei Infrastructure Finance
16) GS Engineering & Construction with Indiabulls Financial Services
17) Group Maritime TCB with GE Maritime and Eredene Capital.

But Ennore Port said that only 6 entities will be pre qualified to submit financial bids for the facility, which will have an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.

Mr Kshitiz Bhasker head of business development at Gammon Infrastructure Projects said that even after qualifying on financial, technical and experience criteria on their own for these projects, many firms face the threat of elimination because of the 6 bidder per project rule.