Port Trust News

DEME announced it has won several capital and maintenance dredging contracts in India, the Maldives and Malaysia, worth €150 million-300 million combined.At Kakinada port in India, where DEME has frequently been performing dredging works, the newly awarded scope includes deepening of the existing berths, turning circle and the inner- and access channel to a depth of 18 m at the deepest point. Works will kick off in Q1 2024 with hopper dredgers and run until the second half of 2024.On behalf of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai…

Pakistani port authorities plan to remove fuel from a merchant ship that ran aground in rough seas last week before making a salvage attempt in the middle of next month, an official said on Monday.Panama registered M.V. Heng Tong 77 was anchored in Pakistan's territorial waters off Karachi for a crew change on July 21 when it lost anchors due to rough seas and drifted towards the shore, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said."By the time the vessel informed KPT of her drifting, it was already in shallow waters," the port authority said in a tweet.

Ports on India's eastern coast on Sunday restricted shipping activities and asked vessels to vacate anchorages ahead of a cyclonic storm expected to make landfall on Wednesday, port authorities and trade sources said.The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a "very severe cyclonic storm" would impact Indian states including Odisha and West Bengal, where key ports are located.Some regions are likely to receive heavy rainfall and wind speeds could reach 110 miles per hour…

Three cranes collapsed at India's largest container port on the outskirts of Mumbai due to strong winds on Wednesday, police and port officials said.Heavy rainfall has hit India's west coast since Monday night, flooding parts of the financial capital. Wind speeds picked up on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.No one was injured when the cranes collapsed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said in a Tweet.The port is still assessing the impact of the collapse on the operations, its chairman, Sanjay Sethi, told Reuters.

Singapore's PSA International and Indian container freight operators have warned the Indian government that its order to waive container storage charges during the coronavirus lockdown could lead to port congestion, letters seen by Reuters showed.India's Ministry of Shipping asked ports to allow free storage of containers as part of relief measures to ease pressure on companies hit by logistics restrictions because of India's nationwide lockdown.PSA's local unit in a letter to the government on April 24 said importers might not remove their containers from ports due to free storage…

The technology group Wärtsilä will upgrade its Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) installed in the Indian port of Cochin, bringing additional benefits such as improved traffic monitoring and control.The system was originally delivered in 2008, and the order with Wärtsilä to upgrade the system was placed in February 2020 by the Cochin Port Trust (CoPT). The upgrading project is scheduled for completion by the end of July 2020.According to Wärtsilä, the upgraded VTMS will enable…

Indian government has green-lighted a mega container port, to be constructed at a cost of INR655.45bn ($9.2bn) at Vadhavan, around 160 km north-west of Mumbai.The proposal to create the huge port – on a ‘landlord model’ – was cleared at a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The proposed port is set to catapult India among countries boasting the top 10 container ports in the world. At the moment, the largest container port in India is Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which sits in the 28th position among the world’s top container ports, with annual throughput of 5.1m teu.A Special Purpose Vehicle will be formed with Mumbai’s JNPT as the lead partner…

Cargotec company Kalmar has been contracted by DP World to supply 15 rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) for the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) in Mumbai, India.The order includes 24 months of on-site maintenance support, with delivery scheduled to be completed during Q4 2020. NSICT was India’s first public-private partnership project and is part of the country’s largest port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which handles 40 percent of India’s maritime trade.The Kalmar Classic RTG combines the diesel and electric technology to give fuel savings…

Indian Minister of State for Shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya laid the foundation stone for development of an additional Liquid Cargo Jetty at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai.According to a government announcement, the facility will be built at a cost of over INR 309 crore (USD 43 million), the project will cater to the increased demand for handling liquid cargo like edible oil, LPG, molasses and other chemicals.Mandaviya said, “The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid focus on port-led development. Keeping this in view, India’s ports are being developed and modernized in line with global best practices.”“There is an increased domestic and industrial demand for liquid commodities like LPG etc in the country, with PM’s plans to reach gas stoves to every home.

India's Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has launched two Ro Pax vessels designed and built for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).The vessels launched at present are the third and fourth vessels in the series of 10 vessels order from IWAI, said the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India.Cochin Shipyard is building a total of 8 Nos. Ro Pax vessels and 2 Nos Ro-Ro vessels for Inland Waterways Authority of India.IWAI nominated CSL for the construction of these vessels, which will be operated in strategic locations in National Waterways 1&2. These vessels can accommodate around 200 passengers and will have 8 crews and can carry 2 trucks and 4 cars.

India's V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for facilitating Direct Port Entry (DPE) of e-sealed factory stuffed export container tothe port under ‘Ease of Doing Business’.With this MoU, Central Warehousing Corporation would make use of the 18,357 sqm area earmarked in the Truck Parking Terminal located opposite to Fisheries College, Tuticorin for operating and managing the Direct Port Entry (DPE) facility for 30 years on Annual Lease Rental basis.DPE facility would enable direct movement of containers from factories without intermediate handling…

The Union government of India (GoI) has concluded the strategic sale of Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) to a consortium of four ports Vishakapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust & Deendayal Port Trust.The share purchase agreement was executed between GOI and the four ports on March 08. The government held 73.47 per cent equity stake in the company.Of 73.47 per cent, the Vishakapatnam Port Trust bought 19.47 per cent, Paradeep Port Trust 18 per cent, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust 18 per cent and Deendayal Port Trust 18 per cent.Further, the Securities and Exchange Board of India granted exemption to the consortium of ports from making an open offer…

Dubai's DP World has asked an Indian court to halt an investigation into alleged antitrust violations at the country's largest container port in Mumbai, saying the regulator was seeking excessive information, a court document seen by Reuters showed.The Competition Commission of India (CCI) last year said it suspected antitrust violations by DP World and Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk at the terminals they operate at state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).The CCI's investigation followed a complaint by Singapore's PSA International Pte Ltd, which alleged that Maersk and DP World businesses created barriers to hinder the growth of PSA's terminal by colluding on certain charges they levy at JNPT.In December, a Mumbai high court declined a DP World plea to quash the investigation.

India's largest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), has made its way to the top-30 container ports across the globe.JNPT notched up five spots as per the latest Lloyds Report, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking," Indian shipping ministry said in a statement.This is a validation of all the efforts and strategic initiatives being implemented at JNPT in order to enhance overall port efficiency, it said.Various new processes activated under the 'ease of doing business' initiative have not only helped in overall growth of the port business, but also allowed the EXIM (Export–Import) trade to save time and cost which in turn have accentuated the growth story…

India's antitrust regulator has ordered a probe into alleged anti-competitive practices by Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk and Dubai's DP World at the terminals they operate at the country's largest container port in Mumbai, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.The decision by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate follows a complaint by Singapore's PSA International Pte Ltd, which alleged that Maersk and DP World created entry barriers to hinder the growth of PSA's terminal by colluding on certain charges they levy at the state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).Handling 66 million tonnes of cargo in the last fiscal year to March, JNPT is critical to India's international trade.

Global port operator DP World said its joint venture (JV) with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)  has won the bid to build a Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)  Mumbai for USD 78 million."Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture between DP World (65%) and the NIIF (35%), has won the bid to develop and operate the FTWZ at India’s largest container gateway – JNPT for $78mn," said a press statement from the port operator.HIPL is the recently created investment vehicle between DP World and NIIF to invest up to USD 3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors across the country.

Indian Ports Association (IPA) has appointed Tech Mahindra as the Managed Service Provider for five major ports. This is the first such outsourcing deal in the major ports.Tech Mahindra will build and maintain an enterprise business system (EBS) to modernise and automate port processes at five Central government-owned port  at Mumbai ,Kolkata, Chennai, Deendayal Port  and Paradip Port Trust.This initiative is a major step towards integrating the maritime sector and fostering growth and development of major public sector ports in the country.Tech Mahindra is partnering with world class leading players like SAP, Envision, CISCO, Dell, RTCom and other major players.

India's three major ports, including Paradip in Odisha, may acquire a stake in Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) based on availability of surplus funds lying with them."In a meeting chaired by Secretary (Shipping) with Chairmen/Chairmen I/C of Major Ports, held on 18th June 2018, the disinvestment proposal of Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI) was discussed," Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya informed the Parliament."It was suggested that Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), based on the availability of surplus fund lying with them may strive to acquire shares of DCI given the linkage of dredging activity with the Ports…

India's Ministry of Shipping has undertaken a diverse set of initiatives as part of its drive to boost profitability across major Indian ports.One major initiative is to improve the returns earned on treasury investments by the ports for pension, provident and surplus funds. Across all major ports, these funds add up to around INR  33,000 crore (USD 4.8 billion), yielding interest of around INR 2,700 crore (USD 394 million)Looking for ways to push this amount further, the Ministry has realized an opportunity to improve returns by INR 150 crore (USD 22 million) or more through a strategic shift in its guidelines for provident and surplus funds.As per the most recent guidelines…

A new Cruise Terminal having facilities to handle 5000 tourists will come up at Ernakulum Wharf of Cochin Port, India by February 2020. Cochin Port Trust has issued work order to the contractor today for commencing the construction of the new Cruise Terminal.The facilities inside the Terminal, having 2253sq mtrs area, would include passenger lounge, crew lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8 customs clearance counters, 7 security check counters, Wi-Fi, tourist information counter, duty free shopping, souvenir/artefact/curio shops, medical care, book store, mini conference hall, gaming zone, ATM/bank services, foreign exchange counter, cafeteria…

Nitin Gadkari, Indian Minister of Shipping will inaugurate five port projects worth INR  1062 Crores (USD 156 mln ) in Vishakhapatnam today (Friday). The projects to be inaugurated include upgradation of existing iron ore handling facility at Outer Harbour of Vizag Port. This would involve modernising and upgrading the 40 year old iron ore handling facility so that it can handle larger vessels of 2 lakh DWT with loading rate of 8000 MT/hour. Capacity enhancement would be to 16.20 MTPA from 12.50 MTPA. The work was awarded to M/s.ESSAR Vizag Terminals Ltd on DBFOT basis with revenue share of 31% on 14.5.2015 is was completed on 31.5.2018. The other projects to be inaugurated include Development Berths at the inner harbour of the port and Post Panamax Quay Cranes.

The Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) will roll out Direct Port Delivery (DPD) transport solution from May 1, enabling faster and cost-effective movement of containers. "The innovative transport solution is aimed to achieve seamless and faster movement of cargo from the port to respective destinations through DPD," said a statement form the company. JNPT has been working on an innovative transport solution to achieve seamless and faster movement of cargo from the port to respective destinations through DPD. Four successful bidders have won the mandate for five routes- from JNPT to Gujarat, to Goa and Bengaluru, to Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Indore and Hyderabad, to Ahmednagar and to local regions in and around Mumbai.

Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Private Limited (BMCT) continued to improve connectivity and ease of doing business for JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) users with its first barge and train volumes last week. A 90-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) block train departed for Mandideep on 13 March 2018, while a second train left for Nagpur on 16 March. Both trains were operated by Container Corporation of India (Concor). On 18 March, there were both barge and rail movements as Shahi Shipping’s “Royal Hugli” barge loaded 75 TEUs at BMCT for the short marine transit to Mumbai Port Trust; while an export train operated by Concor arrived from Boisar, carrying containers for other terminals in JNPT.