December 04, 2008

Shipping ministry approves new berth at Tuticorin Port

It is reported that Mr Thiru TR Baalu union minister for shipping, road transport & highways has approved the proposal for construction of a new berth at North breakwater at the Tuticorin Port.

The construction of the new berth to be known as North Cargo Berth I would cost INR 40 crore. It will add a capacity of 2.93 million tonnes per annum to the port and would help Tuticorin Port to ease the congestion in handling bulk or dusty cargoes in the existing berths. The North Cargo Berth I would enable it to handle coal vessels of 65,000 DWT to 75,000 DWT with a maximum draft of 12.8 meters.

Mr Baalu has expressed the hope that the new berth will help meet the growing demands for handling bulk cargo in the coming years and would be especially useful for the cargo meant for the proposed thermal power plant at Tuticorin to be set up by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and M/s Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited.

Presently, Tuticorin Port boasts of 7 cargo berths, 1 container terminal, 1 oil jetty, 2 coal jetties and 2 shallow draft berths with a total operating capacity of 20.55 million tonnes per annum.