From bullock carts to containerisation, Vizag Port bracing up to emerge as a transhipment hub

VPA is entering MoU with HPCL in Visakhapatnam for establishment of a green hydrogen plant at an estimated cost of Rs. 800 crore. The details of the tie-up are being worked out, sources said. Additional oil jetty OR-3 along with OR-1 & OR-2 at an estimated cost Rs.168 crore with an added capacity of 5.25 MTPA is being developed in EPC mode. It will be completed by October, 2024

From ferryng cargo in bullock carts to steam ships in 1933, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) formerly Visakhapatnam Port Trust, is now aspiring to become a transhipment hub notwithstanding the stiff competition posed by private ports in its neighbourhood.

Ever since it was thrown open to ocean traffic on October 7, 1933, the VPA, has in its 90-year long journey, weathered many a storm to build a robust infrastructure. The port, with a never say die attitude, tok baby steps in the marine transport domain by handling a throughput of 1.3 lakh tonnes with a mere 0.1 lakh tonnes of imports. Over the period, it has augmented its facility by achieving a handling capacity of 135 million tonnes.

The actual construction of the port commenced in 1927 and the passenger ship S.S.Jaladurga of Scindia Steam Navigation Company anchored at the port on October, 7, 1933 heralding a new chapter in Indian maritime history. The port was formally inaugurated by Lord Willingdon, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India, on December 19,1933.

W.C. Ash and O.B. Rattenbury were the engineers, who are remembered for playing a key role in the construction of the harbour. The port has a vast hinterland. The establishment of the port transformed this tiny fishermen town known as Vizagapatnam into one of the leading industrial hubs in India.

"Our efforts with the support of the all stakeholders and the workforce for enhancing our capacity and improving techno-economic parameters to ensure faster evacuation of cargo with last-mile connectivity with thrust on handling more and more clean cargo and taking up welfare activities in the vicinity with better citizen engagement will continue," VPA Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu told Bizz Buzz on the occasion of completion of 90 years of formation of the premier port. He said that their aim is to become a smart and sustainable landlord port with world-class infrastructure by 2030.

At a gathering of stakeholders, Angamuthu later announced the decision to construct a Maritime Heritage Complex with public access and facilities like a digital library, archives for research and a cafeteria and a good ambience. It will house heritage items of the entire 90 years with photos and antique articles with a waterfront area and walkway from the new cruise terminal to the famed temple atop Ross Hill.

VPA is entering MoU with HPCL in Visakhapatnam for establishment of a green hydrogen plant at an estimated cost of Rs. 800 crore. The details of the tie-up are being worked out, sources said.

Additional oil jetty OR-3 along with OR-1 & OR-2 at an estimated cost Rs.168 crore with an added capacity of 5.25 MTPA is being developed in EPC mode. It will be completed by October, 2024.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs. 150 crore work is in progress for modernisation of Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour into a world-class harbour with cold storage and processing facilities. It is expected to be completed by November next year.

Visakha Container Terminal Private Ltd (VCTPL) with a quay length of 845 meters and natural depth of 16 m is an ideal gateway for container traffic from AP, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. The container terminal in VPA has shown impressive performance with 38% growth and handling 3.4 lakh TEUs in FY23-24 as against 2.48 lakh TEUs in last FY. Two new container liners–PA Maritime & SITC have started their operations from this terminal. VCTPL is gradually evolving as a regional transhipment hub in the Bay of Bengal with containers from Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Kakinada, Chittagong and Yangon getting transhipped here.

Vizag International Cruise Terminal (VICT), which was inaugurated recently, has a promising future for emerging as a hub for cruise tourism. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal after inaugurating it said they have big plans to promote cruise tourism from Visakhapatnam. The Ministry of Tourism and AP Government also have plans to develop tourism with water sports. The Buddhist tourist circuit linking Sri Lanka and Taiwan is also at a proposal stage.

A covered storage shed to hold 84,000 tonnes of bulk cargo has been made operational. Another storage shed with a capacity to hold one lakh tonnes will be ready by the first week of next month. VPA has awarded mechanisation of three (EQ7,WQ 7 & 8 ) under PPP with an investment of Rs. 655 crore. Two more PPP projects with an investment of Rs. 600 crore are slated to be awarded by the year-end.