The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has been achieving better performance every month in handling of cargo volume. In the month of June, the port has already handled 48.4 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) of cargo compared to 28 lakh MT handled in the corresponding period in 2012.
Presently, all berths of the port are occupied with cargo ships, besides 23 ships waiting at Paradip anchorage since last several days.
Paradip has become the hub of various importers and exporters of the country for its quick turn round for ships, efficient handling by port management and negligible labour unrest. Five heavy duty harbour mobile cranes are operating at various general cargo berths of the port, besides mechanical handling plant, loading plant at CQ-3 berth for loading of iron ore pellets produced in its plant and mechanical discharge facilities of Paradip Phosphates limited and Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperatives limited’s captive berths of FB-1 and FB-2 respectively which are augmenting productivity of the PPT. The bottleneck is the unavailability of adequate rakes for evacuation of cargo from the port. Therefore, various importers are demanding allotment of more rakes so that they can clear the cargo as quick as possible.