Paradip Port handles highest ever annual traffic in FY23

The growth in cargo handling achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all Ports, both major and non-major.

April 3, 2023
11:29 am

During the financial year 2022-23, Paradip Port has handled its highest ever annual traffic of 135.36 million metric tonnes against 116.13 million metric tonnes during the previous financial year. Thus, Paradip Port has also recorded highest ever growth of 19.2 million metric tonnes (16.56%) of traffic in a single financial year in its history.

Thus, the growth in cargo handling achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all Ports, both major and non-major, of the country.
Paradip Port has contributed 19.2 million metric tonnes i.e. 25.6% out of the total growth in cargo handling achieved by all the major ports during the financial year 2022-23.
During the financial year the Port has achieved highest ever coastal shipping traffic of 58.42 million metric tonnes, with a growth of 16.22 million metric tonnes i.e. 38% over the previous year.
The thermal coal coastal shipping has grown by 14 million metric tonnes i.e. 50% over the previous year cargo handling. Thus, the Paradip Port is emerging as a hub for coastal shipping in the country.
Paradip Port has been able to improve its berth productivity to 31050 MT from 27295 MT of previous financial year, thus registering 13.76% growth. The berth productivity achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all the ports of the country.
During the financial year, the Port has handled 20,126 numbers of rakes, registering a growth of 20.45% over the previous financial year.
During the financial year, the Port has handled 2394 ships, registering an increase of 16% over the previous financial year.
The increased performance in cargo handling has been driven by various system improvement measures undertaken by the Port during the financial year, which are detailed as below:
Improved system of operation at mechanized coal hand plant to reduce idle time between rake unloading has resulted in highest handling of thermal coal at MCHP i.e. 29.22 million metric tonnes.
The engine on load system introduced for loading of railway rakes has reduced the rake turn round by approximately 17% and enabled the port to handle 12.5% of additional rakes.
The northern dock of the port has been declared for handling 16 meters draught cape vessels.
Simultaneous handling of 1 cape and 1 panamax at coal handling berths, which was not being done during the previous year.
Paradip Port has frozen its tariff for cargo handling at the level of 2022 for next 3 years as a part of its business development initiatives. It is to be noted that Paradip Port is the cheapest in terms of tariff among all the port of the country.
Paradip Port, with 289 million metric tonnes rated capacity port as on date, is poised to cross 300 million metric tonnes capacity mark in another 3 years with the commissioning of Western Dock project. The Western Dock project with 25 million metric tonnes capacity has been awarded to M/s. J.S.P.L. during FY 2022-23. The said project will also increase the draught of the port, enabling the port to handle cape vessels by 2026.
Paradip Port, which has mechanized 80% of the berths as on date, plans to become 100% mechanized by 2030 with the mechanization of existing 4 semi-mechanized berths.
The Port has also planned to add another 4 berths for which requisite approval will be taken during the current financial year, itself.
Paradip Port is planning to improve the connectivity by commissioning two road flyovers within its premises with a cost of Rs.150 crores to avoid surface crossing of rail and road traffic. This will enable the Port to handle road traffic seamlessly.
As a part of its port lead industrialization initiatives, the Port has allotted 769 acres of land to various industries which will bring more than Rs.8700 crores of investment and thus attracting 50 million metric tonnes of traffic to port.
Paradip Port, as part of its greenification, has planted 2 lakh saplings during the last year and it is expected to reach 1 million tree plantations by the year 2025.
The Port has also planned to develop 10 MW solar power plant to power the operations of the port, totally by renewable energy. The Port is also planning to come up with green refuelling station by setting up LNG and CNG depot at the Port.
The Port is also aiming to develop one exclusive berth for handling green ammonia/green hydrogen thus becoming the hydrogen hub port of the country.
The Port has rolled out NLP-Marine during this financial year which will enable all the customers to have integrated seamless provision of all services of the port on a single e-platform, as a part of its smart port initiative.
The Port is developing a ultramodern signal station with latest vessel traffic management information system in association with IIT, Chennai. This will improve the vessel management and marine operations substantially, apart from improving the security.
Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman has congratulated the entire team comprising of Exporters & Importers; who patronize the Port, Officers, Staff Unions, PPP Operators, Stevedores, Shipping Agents etc. whose combined effort has resulted in this stupendous achievement.
Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman also expresses his gratitude to Hon’ble Minister, MoPSW, Shri Sarbananda Sonowalji, Hon’ble Ministers of State, MoPSW, Shri Shripad Naikji & Shri Shantanu Thakurji and Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW, for their guidance and support.
Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman also expressed his thanks to Ministry of Railways, Department of Customs, Govt. of Odisha, and all other organizations who supported the effort of the Port.