Kattupalli port handles its first vessel - X Press Indus

X Press Indus had the maiden honour…..

Various measures have been underway to reduce the congestion in the Chennai Port.  On 30th Jan 2013, another minor port came in to being nearer Chennai ~ it is the ‘Kattupalli Shipyard cum Captive Port Complex’  a large shipyard project at Kattupalli village near Ennore of Chennai built by L&T Shipbuilding Ltd. It is being set up jointly by TIDCO and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in two phases.

This is a Container handling facility and is expected to attract bigger container vessels.  In terms of cargo generation, the terminal is located close to the majority of Container Freight stations in Chennai.   In Jan 2013, it was inaugurated by  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.  This facility coming under the Thiruvallur district is reportedly valued at Rs.3,375 crore.  The  port is spread over 1143 acres at nearby Tiruvallur district and the 810-acre ship building yard is the “biggest in India.” The shipbuilding yard reportedly has facilities for building huge cargo ships, vessels specially designed to transport natural gas, designing of equipment for exploring crude oil and natural gas from the sea and fabrication of heavy machines used for building ships and vessels.

Procedural formalities were cleared and given way for operation – in Nov 2012, Kattupalli Minor Port was declared as ‘Customs area’ for unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods. A day later on 8th Nov 12, the appointment of M/s L&T Shipbuilding Limited was notified as Custodian under Section 45(1) of the Customs Act 1962 vide notification 82/2012 Customs (N.T) issued by the Govt of India, Office of the Commissioner of Customs.

Thus after years of effort, the container loading facility at Kattupalli just 25 kms away from Chennai became operational.  This is expected to turn big much in the way of container terminals operated by DP World & PSA International.  Reports quoting the CEO of L&T Infrastructure stated the rates have been benchmarked with Chennai port.  The new facility constructed with an investment of Rs.3,989 crore,   reportedly has capacity to load 1.2 million standard containers a year.  

Though the port was inaugurated by the CM on 31st Jan, it had to wait till April for receiving its first ship.  According to newspaper reports,  X-PRESS INDUS (TCX service), a vessel belonging to X-press Feeders, reached the terminal about 7.20 PM on April 18 and left the port, after successful handling, by 1 AM on April 19. About 162 TEUs – 152 import and 10 export boxes – were handled at the terminal. The vessel reportedly carried electronic items for Toyota.  Sure the new beginning will grow bigger and we will hear of more activity at Kattupalli…

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

25th April 2013