Mumbai Port plans modernisation

Capacity augmentation is proposed by upgradation and modernisation of the oil handling facilities at cost of over Rs 500 crore. Replacement of submarine pipelines connecting the oil terminals to the Refineries is already in progress and upgradation of the jetties is to be taken up in the second phase.

The port has made significant improvement in other parameters. The average pre-berthing detention has come down from 2.29 days in 1996-97 to 0.6 days in 1998-99. With the programme of congestion-free port, container vessels are berthed within 24 hours of readiness and the average pre-berthing detention for container vessels is only 0.39 days as compared to 1.8 days in 1996-97. “Average turnaround time in case of container vessels has also improved from 5.72 days in 1995-96 to 3.52 days in 1998-99 and for all vessels from 7.44 days in 1995-96 to 4.90 in 1998-99,” Mago said.

Since its inception in 1873, the Mumbai Port has maintained a distinct position in India’s trade and commerce. The port traffic increased over the years and peaked at 34.05 million tonnes in 1995-96.

However, since then there has been a decline to 33.73 million tonnes in 1996-97, 32.10 million tonnes in 1997-98 and in the last financial year 1998-99 to 30.95 million tonnes. “Mumbai Port is the first container port of the country handling a major share varying from 35 per cent to 50 per cent of the country’s container traffic. The container traffic at the port reached the peak of 6.01 lakh TEUs in 1997-98,” Mago said.

An analysis of the downward trend of traffic shows that this has been mainly on account of decline of POL traffic from Bombay High. POL traffic has steadily declined from 20.52 million tonnes in 1995-96 to 16.67 million tonnes in 198-99. The non-POL traffic continued to grow even after 1995-96 and reached its peak of 15.37 million tonnes in 1997-98.

However, this traffic has declined by about one million tonnes in 1998-99 to 14.28 million tonnes, Mago said. With Jawaharlal Nehru Port becoming fully operational container traffic which had increased from 5.17 lakh TEUs in 1995-96 to 6.01 lakh TEUs in 1997-98 declined to 5.09 lakh TEUs during 1998-99.

According to Mago, measures have been undertaken for disposal of uncleared/unclaimed cargo lying at the port for long periods. A revised system of sale of such cargo has been adopted by the MBPT Board. During the period October 1997 to March 1999, over 1.27 lakh packages and cargo lying in 1002 containers has been sold. “This measure has decongested the port area. Further, with space being available, it has been possible to destuff import containers and release them to the shipping companies,” he said.