BS reported that steel industries and coking coal consuming units in the eastern region are facing a tough time on account of the priority berthing given to the coking coal vessels of SAIL by the Paradeep Port Trust.

As per report “Around 45 vessels have been waiting at the Paradeep port for several weeks, thereby incurring huge demurrage. The situation has also threatened to render the coking coal stock of the steel units critical.”

Considering the gravity of the situation, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Kolkata based industry body has written a letter to the secretary, union ministry of shipping on July 7th 2009. The letter apprises the union ministry of shipping of the plight of the coking coal consuming industries due to the preferential berthing given in favor of SAIL by PPT.

Mr Vishambar Saran president of ICC and chairman of VISA Steel said "MV APJ Kais, a vessel carrying coking coal for Visa Steel has been waiting for berthing at the Paradeep port since June 14th 2009. According to the normal sequencing for berthing, this vessel was scheduled to be berthed on July 7th. However, on the basis of a letter from the Union ministry of shipping, the berthing of this vessel has been postponed to accommodate MV Tai Health, the coking coal vessel of SAIL, which had not even arrived at that point of time."

Mr Saran has asked the union shipping ministry to treat all the users of PPT in a fair and equitable manner and has also called for revoking the ministry’s letter which has allowed priority berthing in favor of SAIL.

Apart from MV APJ Kais, 2 other vessels of Visa Steel MV Thermidor and MV Prabhu Gopla are waiting at the port’s anchorage since June 21st and 22nd 2009.

(Sourced from Business Standard)