The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : VSPL gets hi-tech cranes from Austria

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

VSPL gets hi-tech cranes from Austria

By Santosh Patnaik

VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPT. 29. With the arrival of two hi-tech harbour mobile cranes from Austria, the multi-purpose berths, being developed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis by the Vizag Seaport Private Limited (VSPL) in the inner harbour of Visakhapatnam Port, are bustling with activity.

The induction of two 400G harbour mobile cranes from Liebherr Work Nenzing of Austria, procured at a cost of Rs. 30 crores, makes the first private terminal in the port capable of handling 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of cargo a day. The electro-hydraulic cranes are designed to load and unload 104 tonnes of bulk cargo with minimal damage and in a short time. It is said that only a few ports in the country have such fully automated cranes.

"After completing 30 years of BOT contract, with effect from signing of the agreement in November 2001, we will transfer all the assets in entirety to the VPT," the VSPL director, R. Kishore, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

As per the agreement, the VSPL has to pay 17.11 per cent of its revenue from berth hiring and wharfage to VPT. With the completion of the work on eastern quay (EQ) 8 and 9 berths, the Rs. 45-crore engineering, procurement and commissioning (EPC) contract for providing material handling equipment, such as stacker reclaimer, conveyor system and mobile hoppers, has been awarded to Larsen and Toubro.

First consignment

The EQ-8 berth, which was declared fully operational some time ago, received its first consignment -- 22,000 tonnes of scrap from Belgium in MV Antalina. This will be delivered to 11 re-rolling millers in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The VSPL, a consortium set up by Gammons India Limited and Portia Management Services got the BOT contract from VPT through a global tender.

Bulk cargo

The terminal, being developed at a cost of Rs. 300 crores mainly for handling bulk cargo like steel, coke, coking coal, scrap, agro-products and fertiliser, will have a contamination-free storage facility. "We also have facilities to load and unload a basket of bulk throughput," Mr. Kishore said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh