Kakinada: After completion of the initial formalities and technical procedures, the unloading of imported wheat from the vessel `S D Progress' commenced around 6 p.m. in the deep water port on Friday .The work sharing on 60:40 ratio among anchorage and deep water port unions, has been given effect, thus ending an unpleasant situation. The vessel containing 53,000 MTs of wheat from Russia, under the agreement, should be discharged at the stipulated time with the discharge rate guaranteed at 10,000 MTs daily.

Heavy demurrage

We are hopeful of fulfilling the guaranteed rate of discharge with the available infrastructure at the Port. It might take five and half days maximum for total discharge of the cargo or else we have to pay heavy demurrage `said V.V.Raghavulu Babu of the International Shipping, the Clearing and Forwarding agents.

The vessel was fumigated for over 20 hours that lasted by evening. The wheat discharging directly into tippers with the help of hoppers will be unloaded in the nearby godowns where they will be bagged for onward transportation to Uttar Pradesh. Another four shipments of wheat to a total of 2 lakh MTs are expected to touch the Deep water Port for unloading by March end.

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