In order to reduce congestion and lower the transaction cost, Mumbai and Nhava Ship-Agents Association (MANSA) have sought berthing facilities at the Offshore Container Terminal for higher dimensional vessels carrying large parcels of pulses, steel and general cargo.
In a letter addressed by MANSA to the Chairman of Mumbai Port Trust states, “These vessels cannot be accommodated and are required to be lightened at the Anchorage Port Lighterage Point. Even after lightening, it is very difficult for them to be accommodated at the Harbour Wall Berths since they occupy more than one Berth and block all the remaining berths for other vessels.”
Such repeated occurrences have contributed to frequent congestion at the port. Hence, under such circumstances, over dimensional vessels be permitted to berth at OCT as a special case to circumvent under-due congestion at the port, the letter said.
Substantiating the rationale behind the move, MANSA, President, Captain Vivek Anand said, “Mere creation of port infrastructure is of no use until it is effectively and efficiently operated. Berthing charges for vessels calling at Indian ports are 5-6 times of those charged in the developed countries making it an expensive proposition for the trade and the economy here.”
Promoted by the Gammon group, the Offshore Container Terminal is the first and single largest container terminal project in the Mumbai Port under build operate and transfer (BOT) scheme, comprising of 700 meters’ quay length in the 1st phase extendable to 1050 meters subsequently.
The effective usage of the OCT for over dimensional vessels to reduce congestion would go a long way in cherishing the Indian government coveted objective of ease of doing business and help the Indian economy take a step towards Make in India by way of lower transaction cost, Captain Anand said.
Moreover, Mumbai Port has embarked upon repairing of harbour wall berths along with maintenance dredging that would built up further congestion and hence it would be imperative to utilize the OCT berth gainfully.
