The proposed projects include mechanisation of coal handling facilities at the general cargo berth in the outer harbour at an
estimated cost of Rs 444 crore, which is expected to be wrapped up by October next year, according to the Port’s Chairman, Mr Ajeya Kallam. The port is also developing two berths for handling thermal coal and steam coal at an estimated cost of Rs 323.18 crore and Rs 313.39 crore respectively, with the concession agreement having been concluded. “We expect to complete the two berths by March 2013,” Kallam said. Mechanisation of iron ore handling facilities in the inner harbour at
a cost of Rs 275.2 crore and fertiliser handling facilities at a cost of Rs 217.58 crore are the other two projects in the port’s mechanisation drive. The two projects are expected to be completed about six months ahead of the deadline of December 2013, Kallam said. The VPT has been taking up several measures under environmental management system. The mechanisation of bulk cargo handling would check pollution as it would lead to reduction in transportation of cargo through trucks.
“VPT is taking all possible measures to contain the pollution and the ambient air quality results are within permissible limits on majority of the days monitored. “To combat dust pollution, we have proposed to implement long term measures to bring down dust levels and comply with all standards for better environment,” Kallam said.

Adani said the project would create jobs and stimulate the local economy, while the mined coal would be exported to India for the power sector. “Adani Mining is planning a large coal mining project with allied infrastructure, the Carmichael coal mine and rail project, with a planned 60-mtpa (million tonner per annum) peak production in 2022. For evacuation of our coal volume, we are exploring various port options, including a greenfield (new) terminal at Dudgeon Point and also the possibility of expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal,” said Harsh V Mishra, president/corporate planning, for the Ahmedabad-headquarterd Adani Group. Adding: “Ultimately, depending on what is feasible from the environment, community, technical and commercial standpoint, we might choose a combination of options, including earmarking some of the capacity available for commercial third-party cargo.” In a filing to the federal government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999, Adani said the proposed development, known as Abbot Point Coal Terminal 0, may potentially enable the export of up to 35 mtpa of coal per annum. The terminal would be located next to the existing X50 Abbot Point Coal Terminal which the Queensland government leased to Adani’s Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone Ltd for 99 years in an A$2 billion deal earlier this year. Abbot Point is close to Adani’s mines in Queensland’s remote Galilee Basin, which contain an estimated 7.8 billion tonnes of coal.

“The Project will be constructed in two stages, the timings of which are based on existing and forecast demand. Stage one construction works are planned to commence in 2013, with 25 mtpa of coal being exported from two stockpiles and one berth in 2014. Stage two is planned to be constructed between 2017 and 2020, and provide for a third stockpile and a second berth. Stage two is planned to be operational in 2020 and provide a total throughput of 35 mtpa through this terminal,” Adani said in a filing on the website of Australia’s department of sustainability, environment, water, population and communities.

APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer said “We are honored to receive this award from the Port Authority to launch a new era in Mexican ports. Our vision is to make Mexico’s infrastructure more competitive by investing USD 900 million that promises to create significant economic benefits nationwide to lift Mexican business and society through a stronger port.  This new port will increase the country’s international trade competitiveness, attract more foreign investment and reduce logistics costs through higher operational efficiency.  In short: We simply believe strongly in the Mexico market.”

Demographics-wise, Mexico has a population of 112 million with the purchasing power of a fast growing middle class. It has an extensive coastline, numerous manufacturing sites and offers near-sourcing benefits to logistics providers serving North America.  As a port operator, APM Terminals will inject high reliability into supply chains through its  operational excellence models. The new port is also a strategic fit into APM Terminals’  broader Latin America strategy to create the port and inland solutions that lift the region.

Phase I consists of an investment over USD 300 million to build a 43 hectare container yard, 650 meter quay with two berths, an administration building, warehouse, gates and modern on-dock rail facilities to serve growing intermodal cargo volumes to Mexico City – one of the largest cities in the world, and cities to the north up to Monterrey.  New container handling equipment will be purchased: 5 Super-Post?Panamax ship?to?shore gantry cranes with 23 wide reach and 17 Eco-RTG’s (Rubber tire gantry cranes), a fleet of trucks and other specialized equipment. This first phase will be completed in 2015 and operations start Q1 2015.

The terminal will undergo phased expansion in accordance with provisions stipulated in the concession agreement and driven by commercial market demands.  Once construction of the final phase is completed, the terminal will have a total area of 102 hectares, with 1,485 meters of quay, 4 berths and water depth in the channel and alongside of 16.5 meters.  Job-wise, 900 jobs will be generated during the construction phase and more than 550 jobs during the first phase of operation, excluding indirect jobs in the area.

The on-dock railyard is a key defining feature of the terminal in the market designed to allow shipping lines to pre-stow intermodal cargo for direct transfer to rail which is not an option presently offered at other terminals. The rail tracks will be parallel to the berth. Remote Mobile Gantry’s (RMG’s) will transport boxes from berth to rail. Future phases offer the potential of rail service to the US Gulf once rail capacity and infrastructure is in place for a border transfer by the rail provider.

APM Terminals has partnered with Mexico’s largest, leading construction company, ICA, who will have a 5% share, designed to leverage ICA’s expertise in construction and high standards with materials procurement in the Mexico market.

In Mexico, APM Terminals operates inland services in Ensenada, Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo that focus on inland transportation and storage depots.

With this expansion, GAC has a total of 27 offices in 22 locations across India. The new office at the Gujurati port is fully licensed, equipped and manned to provide a wide range of ship agency services and to handle cargo shipments, spare parts, customs clearance, and much more. Previously, GAC’s Jamnager office covered the operations at Pipavav, but growing numbers of ships calling at both ports led to the opening of the new office.

Primarily a bulk cargo port, Pipavav has diversified with the addition of a container terminal handling exports from Delhi and North India, and the LPG Terminal serving Mumbai High oil field.

 India’s oldest and largest developed oil field, Mumbai High, has seen its production figures decrease over the past few years. However, there are renewed drilling activities in the 25-year-old field recently, and new technology and drilling techniques are expected to give it a second lease of life.

GAC India’s Managing Director Paul Haegeman says: “As with so many developments for GAC, the establishment of our Pipavav office has been client-driven.”

 “With the opening of this new branch, we are now set to respond quickly and efficiently to the rising demand at the port. In particular, we are ready with our range of support solutions for the oil industry, under the guidance of GAC India’s dedicated Oil & Gas team.”