As Mumbai port gets set to command most of India’s project and over dimensional cargo throughput, SAL’s services will help synergize operations to give added fillip
With Mumbai port (MbPT) getting repositioned as a project cargo hub on the West coast of India, Schiffarhtskontor Altes Land GmbH (SAL) a major heavy lift carriers whose vessels call regularly at various Indian ports, have plans to make Mumbai port as the preferred port of call owing to the efficiency, congestion free and fast turnaround enjoyed there. This is likely to create a significant impact on the country’s EXIM trade as SAL commands a big chunk of the project cargo.
Sai Maritime & Management Pvt. Ltd., the exclusive agents in India for SAL has pioneered the handling of ever larger sized cargo not only to Mumbai Port but also Chennai, Mundra and other Indian ports thus setting precedence. Recently, it was responsible for the freight movement and management on SAL vessel m.v. ANNETTE which loaded the heaviest piece at Mundra port. It was a Boiler Block Assembly measuring 15.29 M x 11.77M x 13M weighing 585 m tons destined for AI Jubail. Soon thereafter it handled two massive HC Reactors at Mumbai port manufactured by Larsen & Toubro, Hazira for shipment to Eleusius in Greece weighing 1006 Metric tons (of 29.50 X 8.10 X 7.40M dimension) and another of 895 tons (26.10 X 8.10 X 7.10M).
Those in the heavy lift and project cargo field look to SAL as a significant player who could become a prominent facilitator in Mumbai for the quick and efficient movement of over dimensional consignment and heavy lift project cargo to and from this India’s premier port.
“Our existing dock system provides ideal berthing for heavy lift and project cargo vessels at corner berths thus permitting suitable double banking facilities alongside a vessel,” says V.S. Kulkarni, Deputy Docks Manager of Mumbai Port Trust. “The port has been able to regularly handle ‘out of gauge’ cargo and heavy project consignments of more than 1000 tons. Our docks can even accommodate extraordinarily long vessels with overall length exceeding 900 feet. Good connectivity permitting quick evacuation of cargo via the sea through barges and by land through rail network or by road gives Mumbai Port a distinctive advantage.”
Increasing quantity of project cargoes manufactured at minor and intermediate ports located in Gujarat and Maharashtra are brought to MbPT by barges for onward shipment by mother vessels. Construction machinery, road rollers, machinery of turnkey projects, boilers, reactors, transformers, dredgers, windmills, over dimensional power equipment, etc. passing through MbPT has also been on the rise.
“Mumbai port will lead in heavy lift and project cargo in combination with Kandla, Mundra and Haldia ports where quite a lot of action is expected,” says Nilesh Gandhi Director of Express Transport Pvt. Ltd. “Most of the 30,000 freight tons we handled last year have been through MbPT.”
“Heavy cargoes are also brought in by rail or road and we offer various facilities including 7 free days on export cargo and 6 on import, if the goods have to be warehoused in the dock area,” says Mr. Kulkarni. “Offering Ro-Ro facilities to enable heavy cargo to either be rolled on or rolled off trailers. Also, the advantage of MbPT is that it being an enclosed dock, its sheltered conditions allow ships to be safely berthed. The loading and unloading operations require a certain amount of precision when the cargo is over-dimensional. This is made possible if the ship is stationary and berthed in calm waters. Such enclosed dock conditions exist only at the Mumbai port.”