Chennai: The V O Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi has handled cargo traffic of 34.12 Million Tonnes (MT), against the previous year’s achievement of 31.79 MT, registering a growth of 7.33 per cent, while its income jumped to Rs 636.29 crore during the financial year 2021-2022.
A port release here said imports have accounted for 24.19 MT (+7.42 %) and exports accounted for 9.45 MT (+2.83 %) and Transhipment accounted for 0.48 MT.
‘It is also a matter of pride that the Port surpassed the 34 MT target set by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for the 2021-22 fiscal on 30 March this year.’
The Port has handled 7.81 lakh, Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of Containers during the year, registering an increase of 2.49 per cent over previous year’s container traffic of 7.62 Lakh TEUs.
The Port has seen an improved performance in terms of operational efficiency.
The average pre-berthing detention time has decreased considerably from 13.44 hours during the financial year 2020-21 to 11.52 hours and the Ship Berthday Output has increased from 15,696 Tonnes during the financial year 2020-21 to 16,811 Tonnes during the financial year 2021-22.
Windmill blade, the anchor product of VOC Port and dry bulk cargo, the major commodity, witnessed continuous growth and stellar performances.
The Port also recorded impressive performances by handling the longest windmill blade upto 81.50 metre length, handling 57,090 tonnes of coal and 53,604 tonnes of lime stone in 24 hours, handling highest parcel size of vessel with 93,719 tonnes and berthing the container vessel with Length of 277 metres, the longest container mainline vessel to call VOC Port.
On the financial performance, the Port’s total income increased to Rs.636.29 crores, during 2021-22 as against Rs.603.21 crores recorded in 2020-21,.
The Operating Surplus is Rs.340.90 crores as against Rs.321.62 crores in 2020-21. The Net surplus after Tax is Rs.130.01 crores as against Rs.109.53 crores in 2020-21.
During 2021-22, the Port has completed many projects like commissioning of a Drive through Container Scanner at a cost of Rs.42 crores, 140 KW Roof Top Solar Power Plant at a cost of Rs.70 lakhs and six number of e-cars at a cost of Rs.2.22 crores (on wet lease basis).
For promoting Port based industries under Coastal Employment Unit (SPEEDZ), land parcels to an extent of 60 acres have been allotted in a phased manner for industries such as Edible Oil, Refinery, Food Processing and Warehouses.
In addition, Port has allotted 12.79 acres of land, including water area, for setting up of a Cement bulk terminal.
The major projects in progress included modification and widening of the Harbour entrance, modification of coal yard roads, mechanisation of North Cargo Berth-III for handling dry bulk cargo, conversion of 9th berth as container terminal, setting up 2.8 MW wind farm and commissioning of 5 MW Ground-based solar power plant.
In addition, the Port also proposes to develop Outer Harbour with two container terminals (Continuous Quay length of 1000 metres each), with draft of 16 Metres, in the first phase through PPP mode, in addition to a 100 MW WindāSolar hybrid renewable energy park on PPP basis.
Speaking on the performance, Port Chairman T K Ramachandran said the ‘VOC Port is surpassing pre-pandemic cargo volumes, given the positive trend driven by economic recovery.’
‘I also take this opportunity to thank all the Employees, Trade Unions, Terminal operators, enterprising Port users and Stakeholders for their unstinted support for the growth and development of the Port’, he said.