V O Chidambaranar Port berthed a vessel with highest capacity of 95,692 DWT carrying a parcel size of 89,777 tonnes at Berth No. IX. The Panama-flagged, MV NBA VERMEER, having length of 234.98 metres, beam of 38 metres and draught of 14.16 metres arrived from the Port of Baltimore, the US with 89,777 tonnes of coal consigned to India Cements Ltd. Previously, the highest parcel size vessel, MV KMAX Emperor, with 85,224 tonnes of limestone, was handled at the port on July 25, 2019.
The vessel commenced discharge using three harbour mobile cranes capable of discharging 50,000 tonnes a day. The entire consignment was completed by 22.00 hours on September 18, 2019. The shipping agent for the vessel was Ben Line Agencies (India) Pvt. Ltd, Tuticorin and the stevedore Chettinad Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Tuticorin.
During this financial year up to August 2019, the port has handled 5.26 million tonnes of coal, as against the 5.21 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of the previous year, highlighted a release.
“With the regular arrivals of vessels over 14 metres draught, V. O. Chidambaranar Port is into the next league in international shipping along the east coast of India. On the occasion of achieving this significant milestone, I would like to recognise the hard work and commitment of ship agents, stevedores, harbour mobile crane operators, officers and staff of V. O. Chidambaranar Port,” said Mr T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust.
