August 30, 2008

Mechanized iron ore handling at Mangalore port

BS reported that New Mangalore Port Trust, in its effort to grab a sizeable portion of the growing iron ore exports from India, is planning to install mechanized iron ore loading system. Once the mechanized cargo handling system is in place, the port will be able to service bigger ships up to the size of 100,000 DWT.

The new system involves erection of a conveyor belt from the marshalling yard to the back of iron ore berth. Iron ore will come into the port by the railway line and iron ore will be loaded on to the conveyor belt by tipping the wagons. The conveyor belt will run up to the ship for a smooth and faster loading. The project is being implemented on a build own and transfer basis for a period of 30 years. It is expected to be complete in 18 to 24 months from the date of awarding the contract.

New Mangalore Port Trust has already floated global tenders for the INR 130 crore project and is awaiting security clearance from the ministry of surface transport. Officials of New Mangalore Port said that “We floated the tenders last year and 5 companies have submitted their technical bids. Once the ministry clears their names, we will open the bids and finalize the bidder.”

According to New Mangalore Port Trust officials, the cost of the project is likely to go up to INR 150 to INR 160 crore as there has been a considerable delay in implementing the project. The bids are, however, valid till December end 2007.

At present, there are 737 laborers at the New Mangalore Port who normally take 2 days to load a ship with 30,000 DWT. The port has already installed a 104 tonne capacity mobile harbour crane to enable the faster loading of iron ore.