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Journalism of Courage
As Sunday’s tsunami continues to transform villages in the south-east Indian coastlines into mass graveyards, shipping and trade circles see a rise in costs soon.
Shipping industry officials warn of a rise in trade charges due to pressure on container traffic and port infrastructure failure. ‘‘Trade might feel the impact, but a little later, as the freight charges take time to change,’’ said a senior official on conditions of anonymity. Chennai Port Trust was the worst hit on the Indian coastline. ‘‘Our entry channels have completely been washed away. Huge vessels stranded near to the port collided with each other and in turn destroyed the walls of the port,’’ stated K. Suresh, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust.
The infrastructural damage is estimated at Rs 25 crore. Expenditure to rebuild the damaged surfaces is touted to be another few crores. ‘‘Although the port has resumed operations today the two-day closure has amounted to a loss of Rs 7 crore,’’ says Suresh.
Ironically, Chennai Port is gearing fast to cash in on the opportunity thrown in by the tsunami. ‘‘The ports at Colombo and Port Blair have been badly hit compared to us. We are aiming at a 10 to 20 per cent increase of trade from vessels which use their hubs,’’ says Suresh.
Sudhir Ragnekar of Shipping Corporation of India although, says the shipping industry’s loss is far less than the fishing industry. ‘‘We have suffered marginal loss as some of our ships suffered minor damages.’’ Of the SCI-owned and operated container vessels, three suffered damages, and had to be directed towards the sea. Two passenger ships based at the dry docks of Port Blair, which SCI manages for the Andaman administration capsized and suffered damages.
