October 14, 2008

Experts call for container ports development on hub and feeder strategy

BL reported that Dr G Raghuram professor at IIM Ahmedabad while presenting the theme paper at a logistics seminar focused on containerization organized by the CII pointed out that India is likely to handle 21 million TEU containers by 2015-16 and suggested developing ports on a hub and feeder strategy.

While the feeder ports with relatively lower draft of up to 12 meter draft would handle feeder vessels and serve the hub ports, the hub ports should have at least 16 meter draft.

On the West coast, Jawaharlal Nehru Port could be taken up as hub port given that investments are lined up for JN Port. However, he pointed out that Mundra is better placed in terms of draft and evacuation since JN Port does not have the draft or the evacuation capability for future growth.

On the eastern coast, Visakhapatnam is the most viable port for hub operations as it has natural water depth of 20 meters within a nautical mile. It is in the centre of the India’s eastern coast and can even service Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Dr Raghuram said that the sea drift there is such that maintenance dredging requirements are less while Chennai has the commercial advantage with more investments lined up. He further added that Vallarpadam and Vizhinjam are possibilities from the South, but may not work on commercial criteria.