R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APR 3
The Chennai Port Trust and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd in the eastern coast of the country have set a target to handle over 100 million metric tonne of cargo in the current financial year, said Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson here on Monday.
Releasing the annual report for the just concluded Financial Year 2022-23, he said that both the ports combined together handled 92.46 million metric tonne of cargo in the last financial year.
Chennai Port Trust handled 48.95 million metric tonne of cargo, which was up by 0.8 percent from 48.56 million metric tonne handled than the previous financial year.
Kamarajar Port handled 43.51 million metric tonne of cargo in 2022-23 up by 12.31 percent from 38.74 million metric tonne recorded the previous year, he said.
- Export of cars at Chennai Port Trust rose by 36 per cent to 2,31,412 units in FY 2022-23 while it was 1,70,482 units in FY 2021-22. Combined handling of both the Ports is about 3,79,719 units of cars last year.
- Chennai Port Trust launches the unique Float-on-Float-Off operation
- Kamarajar Port to be able to handle cape size vessels in a few years
- Under the CSR initiative the KPL has constructed 20 school buildings in Minjur, the neibourhood of the Kamarajar port at an estimated cost of Rs 3.78 cr.
Paliwal said, the container is the major cargo handled by Chennai Port Trust. It is about 58 percent while the liquid bulk and dry bulk cargo also witnessed a considerable growth this year.
Replying to a query, he said exports of automobiles grew last year at Chennai Port Trust following the signing of agreements with several OEMs, including auto major Toyota.
The exports by these companies from Chennai Port had offset the loss incurred due to the exit of US car maker Ford from Chennai last year, he said.
Export of cars at Chennai Port Trust rose by 36 per cent to 2,31,412 units in FY2022-23 while it was 1,70,482 units in FY 2021-22.
Kamarajar Port exported 1,48,307 cars in 2022-23 as compared to 1,35,702 cars in 2021-22.
Combined handling of both the Ports is about 3,79,719 units of cars last year.
In a boost to cruise tourism, Paliwal said Switzerland based MSC Cruises, part of the MSC Group, was in discussion with the Chennai Port Trust for offering cruise tourism from the coastal town.
“They are planning to have Mumbai as a hub for cruise tourism in the western coast and Chennai as a hub in the eastern coast. From 2024 onwards, they (MSC Cruises) may commence operations from Chennai Port,” he said.
Chennai Port Trust in 2022-23 handled 37 Cruise ship calls carrying 85,000 passengers.
Financial performance at its best
The Chennai Port’s highest net surplus (profit before tax) in the last 13 years at Rs 150.26 crore in FY 2022-23.
“This is a 33 percent year-on-year increase in net surplus over last financial year 2021-22,” Paliwal said.
The highest net surplus achieved enables Chennai Port Trust to invest in developing the existing infrastructure projects.
As regards the financial performance of Kamarajar Port, Paliwal said the port surpassed Rs 1,000 crore mark as income to reach Rs 1,002.45 crore.
“This is an increase of 17.82 per cent from Rs 850.84 crore registered in 2021-22.”
Kamarajar Port registered a net surplus of Rs 669.93 crore in FY 2022-23 which was an increase of 24.39 per cent from the earlier Rs 538.59 crore registered last year, he said.
Responding to a question on ongoing projects by Kamarajar Port, he said the cargo handling capacity at the port is being expanded with construction of RoRo cum GCB-II (3 metric tonne per annum) at an investment of Rs 161.09 crore.
Kamarajar Port is undertaking a capital dredging Phase-VI project to provide 18 metre draft to handle bigger container vessels at an estimated cost of Rs 549 crore, he added. Environment clearance for the project has already been obtained on October 30, 2018, Sunil Paliwal added.
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Sunil Paliwal said that the Chennai Port Trust has launched the unique Float-on-Float-Off operation performed to load in the indigenously built ship ‘MA LISHA’ on another mother/carrier vessel ‘SUN RISE’ for transporting over 14,000 kms distance to Republic of Guyana.
Green initiatives
Kamarajar Port was awarded with ‘Samudri Paryavaran Parirakshan Trophy’ by Director General, Coast Guard for the best environmental practices being adopted by the Port. 300 KWp Solar Power Plant is commissioned in January this year. KPL has also introduced 3 nos. of E-vehicles for collection of garbage from different locations inside the port.
CSR Initiatives
The Kamarajar port has also earmarked Rs 9.85 cr for FY 2022-23 as against Rs. 7.07 cr for the previous financial year. Under the CSR initiative the KPL has constructed 20 school buildings in Minjur, the neibourhood of the port at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.78 cr
