Container ship traffic: Chennai Port in SE India is going all out to regain top position.
Work on the Chennai Port Mega Terminal Project is expected to start shortly and the first ship would be berthed in three years at the new terminal, according to Atulya Misra, Chairman of Chennai Port Trust. He dismissed fears that with the development of Ennore and Karaikal ports that flank the Chennai Port, the latter may lose its pre-eminent position in the region.
Mr.Misra told a news conference that Chennai Port was aiming to regain its dominant position in container traffic by establishing a mega container terminal with a capacity to handle 4 million tonnes of cargo.
The project would require an investment of close to Rs 4,000 crore which would double the container handling capacity from the current 3.1 mt (a year).
According to the Chennai port Web site, the estimated cost of the mega terminal project was Rs 3,686 crore. To be developed north of existing Bharathi Dock, it would have two new breakwaters (total length 4.5 km) and continuous quay length of 2 km with 22 m. alongside depth (ultimate). It would be capable of handling ultra large container ships of capacity over 15,000 TEUs and with a length of 400 m.
The project was being planned on a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) basis. The BOT operator would invest on berth and breakwater construction, reclamation of backup area, handling equipment and other landside infrastructure (estimated cost Rs 3,125 crore). The cost of dredging, floating crafts and navigational aids (approximately Rs 561 crore) would be borne by Chennai Port.
The rated capacity of the new port will be 4 million TEUs and the project will be completed by January 2020.