The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) on Friday appealed to every stakeholder to abide by the rules and regulations and make a congenial atmosphere through mutual trust and respect and make the port No.1 Major Port in the country.
Cargo volume has increased manifold in recent months at the port and would continue to do so if industrial peace is maintained in the port, a PPT Press release said.
The release said the PPT has witnessed various news reports in recent times by different interest groups threatening acts that can disrupt port operations on different issues for which the following clarifications are given:
The port functions primarily as an infrastructure service provider to facilitate imports and exports of the country. So, its principals are the importers and exporters. Stevedores render services to importers and exporters. The port offers a level playing field to all customers and service providers by operating on two cardinal principles: Every importer/exporter is free to choose his stevedore or service provider, and every stevedore is free to get his equipment like dumpers, pay loaders, etc., of his own choice.
For the above two functions, the port has no role to play in the internal decision of its importer or exporter or the internal decision of the stevedore. While allowing a stevedore to source its equipment, the port follows the following procedures: The stevedore recommends the equipment for its work and relevant documents are checked. Gate passes are issued to the equipment owner for working inside the port.
For the earlier entry of 117 dumpers recently for intra-port work, the concerned stevedores have recommended for the issuance of gate passes and the same were accordingly issued duly fulfilling the process. Although correspondences were done with the association of which the stevedores were constituent members, the processes were followed in toto.
In the current demand for new entry of dumpers by another association, Utkal Stevedores’ Association (USA), of which there are three active members, the port management has clarified to the concerned members and sought specific recommendation by the stevedore who must have the relevant work inside the port. Among the three active working stevedores under the USA, the major cargo volume is being handled by the Seaways Shipping & logistics ltd (SSll), which has agreed to source dumpers as per the minutes of the meeting with the district administration. It is pertinent to mention that the other two active stevedores under the USA, while working their vessel operations, have not yet recommended the said 115 dumpers.
So, it is again reiterated by the port management that it is committed by its principles of every importer/exporter being free to choose his stevedore or service provider and every stevedore being free to get his equipments of his own choice duly following the rules/regulations in force.