Chennai port to build barge jetty under public-private model

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Aug 2009

The Shipping Ministry has asked the major ports to explore the possibility of developing small barge jetties under public-private-partnership (PPP) to increase liquid cargo traffic. There is a plan to build one such facility in the Chennai port, while other ports are also exploring this business potential, according to sources.
The private player will be given licence of the facility for a 30-year period on build, operate and transfer basis.
EoI sought
The Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has drawn up a proposal to develop the barge jetty adjoining the new pipeline trestle at the north-west side of the Bharathi Dock.
It has sought expression of interest (EoI) from private players on how the facility should be developed, the source said.
Bharathi Dock
There is an existing facility at the Bharathi Dock in the Chennai port to handle barges up to 65 metre long with three-metre depth.
However, the port trust plans to construct a barge jetty up to a maximum of 200 m length without affecting the manoeuvrability of container, oil and iron ships handled at the Bharathi Dock.
“We are following the Ministry’s instructions to encourage small customers to use the barge jetty. We do not know about what could be potential business or the investment involved in building the facility,” the source said.
To develop the barge jetty, the ChPT will provide private operators the right-of-way in the existing pipeline trestle without affecting the present operations; permission to develop an elevated approach from the breakwater to the barge jetty; land area of 7,500 sq m in the vicinity of the jetty and existing barge handling facility.

Source: Hindu Business Line