According to Mr P Tamilvanan chairman of NMPT, berth No 14 of the New Mangalore Port Trust recorded 91% occupancy after it was commissioned in 2006.

Speaking at the inauguration of the residential complex of the Mercantile Marine Department at NMPT, he said that the occupancy level of the deep draught berth No 14 is good. Built at a cost of INR 44 crore, the berth has handled around 6.5 million tonnes of cargo till now.

At the end of March 2010, the port earned revenues of around INR 118 crore from the berth, he said. He added that berth No 13 is under construction.

He said that six new railway lines have been commissioned in the port and three more lines are under process.

Traffic at the port has decreased due to the ban on the export of iron ore cargo. He said that to compensate the shortfall, port officials have been making efforts to attract other cargo.

(Sourced from BL)