Mumbai Port gets a second chemicals berth
15 Jan 2016
Mumbai Port has increased its chemicals handling capacity to 4.5 million tonnes, adding 2.5 million tonnes to the already existing capacity of 2 million tones, with the commissioning of a new chemical berth at Pir Pau.
With a draft of 12.80 meters the berth can handle large ships. Besides adding capacity, the new berth will also help in faster turnaround time for the ships. The berth can also handle large parcel size of up to 72,000 dead weight tonnes. due to its draft.
Minister for shipping and road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated the second chemical berth of Mumbai Port at Pir Pau. This berth is situated about 3.2 km away from the shore in deep waters close to the main harbour channel.
Built at a cost of Rs130 crore, this berth has modern handling facilities with separate loading arms for LPG and other chemicals. The new berth will have faster discharge rates up to 1,000 tonnes per hour.
The berth is equipped with latest safety standards like modern fire-fighting equipment in compliance with the OSID guidelines. The cargo at this berth can be evacuated through pipelines to the storage areas at shore.
The new chemical berth has a draft of 12.80 meters and can handle large ships. It will add a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes to the already existing capacity of 2 million tonnes at Mumbai Port. It will also help in faster turnaround time for the ships and due to its draft it can handle large parcel size upto 72,000 DT.
Mumbai Port is the premier port of India handling over 11 per cent of the total seaborne trade of the country, over 16 per cent of the country's general cargo traffic and 19 per cent of POL and chemical cargo. For this bulk liquid cargo, special facilities are provided, which include separate berths at Pir Pau for handling chemicals and other specialised grades of POL products like LPG.
The port, in 1996, commissioned its first chemical berth having a deeper draft and equipped with modern facilities.
The second chemical berth has been constructed to meet the ever increasing demand of chemicals and POL including LPG. Capacity addition at ports has been a priority for shipping ministry. The second chemical berth at Mumbai Port is a step forward in that endeavor.
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