Paradip Port handles highest annual traffic ever in FY23

In the 2022-23 financial year, Paradip Port handled its highest ever annual traffic of 135.36 million tonnes compared to 116.13 million tonnes in the previous financial year. As a result, Paradip Port has also recorded the highest traffic growth of 19.2 million tonnes (16.56%) in a single financial year in its history.

• Thus, the growth in cargo handling achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all major and non-major ports in the country.
• Paradip Port has contributed 19.2 million tons, ie 25.6%, to the overall growth in cargo throughput achieved by all major ports in FY2022-23.
• During the financial year, the port recorded its highest ever coastal shipping traffic of 58.42 million tons, with a growth of 16.22 million tons, ie 38% over the previous year.
• Thermal coal coastal shipping grew by 14 million tons compared to last year’s cargo handling, ie by 50%. The Paradip Port is thus developing into a hub for the country’s coastal shipping.
• Paradip Port was able to increase its berth productivity to 31,050 MT from 27,295 MT in the previous financial year, a growth of 13.76%. The berth productivity achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all ports in the country.
• During the financial year, the port handled 20,126 units of account, a growth of 20.45% over the previous financial year.
• During the financial year, the port handled 2,394 ships, an increase of 16% over the previous financial year.
• The increased performance in cargo handling was driven by various system improvement measures implemented by the port during the financial year, which are detailed below:
• An improved operating system in the Mechanized Coal Hand Plant to reduce idle time between rake unloading has resulted in the highest processed thermal coal at MCHP, ie 29.22 million tonnes.
• The engine-on-load system introduced to load railway rakes has reduced rake rotation by approximately 17% and allowed the port to handle 12.5% ​​additional rakes.
• The northern dock of the port was declared for the handling of Cape ships with a draft of 16 meters.
• Simultaneous handling of 1 Cape and 1 Panamax at coal handling berths, which was not the case last year.
• Paradip Port has frozen its cargo handling tariff at 2022 levels for the next 3 years as part of its business development initiatives. It should be noted that among all the ports in the country, Paradip Port is the cheapest fare.
• Paradip Port, with a current rated capacity of 289 million tonnes, is poised to surpass the 300 million tonne capacity mark with the commissioning of the Western Dock project in another three years. The 25 million ton capacity Western Dock project has been awarded to M/s. JSPL in FY2022-23. The said project will also increase the port’s draft, allowing the port to handle Cape ships by 2026.
• Paradip Port, which has mechanized 80% of the berths to date, plans to become 100% mechanized by 2030 by mechanizing the existing 4 semi-mechanized berths.
• The port has also planned to add another 4 berths, for which the necessary permits will be obtained in the current financial year itself.
• Paradip Port plans to improve connectivity by operating two flyovers within its premises at a cost of Rs.150 crores to avoid crossing rail and road traffic. This allows the port to handle road traffic smoothly.
• As part of its port-leading industrialization initiatives, the port has allocated 769 acres of land to various industries which will bring in more than Rs.8700 crores in investment and thus attract 50 million tons of traffic to the port.
• Paradip Port planted 2 lakh seedlings last year as part of its greening and is expected to reach 1 million tree plantations by 2025.
• The port has also planned to develop a 10MW solar power plant to power the port’s operations entirely on renewable energy. The port also plans to establish a green fuel station by establishing an LNG and CNG depot at the port.
• The port is also aiming to develop an exclusive green ammonia/green hydrogen transshipment berth, becoming the country’s hydrogen hub.
• The port launched NLP Marine this fiscal year, which will enable all customers to have an integrated seamless delivery of all the port’s services on a single e-platform as part of its Smart Port initiative.
• The port is developing a state-of-the-art signal station with the latest Vessel Traffic Management Information System in cooperation with IIT, Chennai. This will greatly improve ship management and sea operations, apart from improving safety.
• Shri PL Haranadh, Chairman, congratulated the whole team of exporters and importers; who patronize the port, officers, staff unions, PPP operators, stevedores, shipping agents, etc. whose combined efforts have led to this amazing feat.
• Chairman Shri PL Haranadh also thanks the Honorable Minister of MoPSW Shri Sarbananda Sonowalji, the Honorable Ministers of State of MoPSW Shri Shripad Naikji & Shri Shantanu Thakurji and Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary of MoPSW for their guidance and support.
• Shri PL Haranadh, the Chairman also thanked the Ministry of Railways, Customs Office, Government. by Odisha and all other organizations supporting the port’s efforts.