Paradip handles record met. coal imports

The Indian Port of Paradip handled a record 8.06 million t of cargo in July, including 1.23 million t of imported metallurgical coal, according to the Ministry of Shipping. Since April, the port has handled 28.65 million t of cargo compared to 24.34 million t over the same period in 2015.

The import of 1.23 million t of metallurgical marks a record quantity for Paradip, the first time the port has handed more than 1 million t of metallurgical coal in a month.

The use of a dual shiploader at the mechanical coal handling plant has helped to boost the speed and efficiency of coal handling at the port. This has enabled thermal coal ships docking at Paradip to be sailed within 24 hrs.

On 9 May, loading of the MV Paola Bottiglieri achieved a record load rated of 4233 tph with a total of 84 656 t of coal loaded in 20 hrs. “Such loading rate […] is the best among all Indian major and non-major ports,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile the MV Ocean Oceanus unloaded 46 000 t in a day – a record at Paradip. The coal was imported by Bhusan Power & Steel and was handled by Orissa Stevedores.

Cargo handling will be boosted further with the lengthening of its multi-purpose berth to allow the docking of panamax size ships.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/10082016/paradip-handles-record-met-coal-imports-2016-2200/