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KPCL has always been a step ahead of the demand by increasing its port capacity and operational efficiency.
With Krishnapatnam Port soon becoming the hub for industrialisation in the region, coal imports are surging with an expectation to hit 100 mtpa in the next 10 years. Krishnapatnama Port Company Ltd (KPCL) has always been a step ahead of the demand by increasing its port capacity and operational efficiency. The port has recently inaugurated a mechanised coal handling system which facilitates quick unloading of coal through the ship unloaders and conveyed through a conveyor system that has a capacity of 3,000 tonne per hour and can directly transport cargo to its destination. It would enhance the berth productivity to 12 million tonne per annum, eliminating all intermediary supply chain/logistics costs ensuring quality, zero handling loss and faster evacuation of cargo. This automation is slated to phase out all the existing multi-handling and manual operation systems. Two TRF ship-unloaders, each with a capacity of 1,500 tonne capacity per hour, have been added into the port infrastructure.

The major factors driving the growth are India?s increasing dependence on coal imports. Of the country?s projected coal imports of 240 mmt by FY 15-16, KPCL is aiming to have a bigger share and eyes on importing around 40 to 50 mmt of coal by FY 16. For Krishnapatnam Port, the imports are going to feed the surrounding industries, steel plants and power plants. Currently, seven power generating companies are located surrounding the port area. Several power companies are currently building coal-fired electricity generating units in and around Krishnapatnam with a capacity that is likely to go up to 15,000 MW. These companies cumulatively would be importing at least 70 per cent of their coal requirement through Krishnapatnam port. Additionally, Krishnapatnam being announced one among the proposed 100 industrial smart cities in India, the demand for coal will further go up to meet the industrial requirements in the region.

Ramping up infrastructure
Krishnapatnam Port?s story is a good case study in the Indian maritime history of how a port, in less than seven years, has managed to create a name in the global maritime trade. Krishnapatnam Port is currently in the process of completing its Phase II development plan offering the best infrastructure facilities for cargo handling operations and efficient services to all its customers.

KPCL currently is making huge investments to improve its capacity and efficiencies. New berths have been added, new rail and roadways are being built. New equipment such as ship unloaders, post-panamax quay cranes, mobile-harbour cranes, etc are being added. Though being in its infancy stage of operations, KPCL in a short span, has already matched global standards in offering top class port services and facilities. Krishnapatnam Port has just set sail and is already creating waves in the maritime world. Its vision is to handle 100 million tonne by 2018. Its belief of constantly adapting to the needs of its customers has been its success mantra and is soon to become India?s largest and best-in-class multipurpose port.

The greenfield port situated in the Muthukur Mandal of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, is been developed on 6,800 acre of area. It started operations after Phase I development in July 2008, handling bulk cargo comprising iron ore, coal, agri commodities, minerals, edible oil, fertilisers and project cargo. Currently, the Phase II of development is under completion which also saw the container operations commencing in September 2012, apart from enhancement in bulk and break-bulk cargo handling capacity. Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal is poised to develop into a world-class container terminal by optimising necessary land and sea-side infrastructure.

Fresh equipment
KPCL?s ability to handle very large bulk carriers and the massive infrastructure created, including rail lines, has made a huge difference to the cargo business in the eastern India. In order to meet the expected coal import growth, the port has plans to ramp up the existing infrastructure. The plans include construction of new berths, mechanization of cargo handling system, wagon loader - 3,500 mt in 2 hr, stacker - reclaimer 3,000-5,000 TPH, wagon tippler - 30 tips per hour, locomotives (4 nos.), and three in-motion and 23 weighbridges, among others. It already has in place a dedicated 4-lane road with capacity to handle 5,000 trucks/day.

Future trends
Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal is one of the largest and fast-growing container terminals on the east coast of India. The world-class, all-weather terminal has the advantage of flexible tariff, uncongested road and rail connectivity extending directly into the container yard, modern terminal infrastructure and outstanding services. The 1.2-million TEU terminal with 18-m draft, 650-m wharf length, 5 super-post Panamax cranes with twin-lift capability and a reach of 23 across, plans to boost its capacity to 6-million TEU - the highest container volumes ever on the east coast. KPCT has already received a good response from liners, feeder operators, importers and exporters. Vessels of Maersk Line, MSC Line and several feeder operators call at the terminal. Further, Krishnapatnam Port has large area earmarked for storage, handling and processing facilities as required by trade.

Due to the phenomenal growth of the port and the industries around it, Krishnapatnam has been finalised as one of the only three industrial nodes in Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC), being promoted jointly by Government of India and Government of Japan.

Services provided by the port not only help the local, regional and state economies but also encourage industrial development in the region and generate employment. Facilities provided by Krishnapatnam port for the export and import of coal, fertilisers, edible oil, raw sugar, palm kernel, etc are the key driving force for the establishment of a number of plants such as thermal power, lubricants, cement, steel, sugar refineries, and oil mills in the surrounding area giving a boost to both industrial and infrastructure development.

?Bulk Transhipment Hub?
Krishnapatnam Port is gearing up to become the ?Bulk Transhipment Hub? on the east coast of the country due to its advantage of being centrally located. Once the cargo reaches the port in capesized vessels, it is unloaded and then loaded on to smaller vessels which further sails to different destinations within the country. On an average, the port handles two vessels weekly. So far, it has done close to 2 mt of iron ore transhipment and has plans to bring other cargoes including coal into the realm of transhipment. The idea of ?Transhipment Hub? is going to become the game changer for the port in the coming years.

KPCL - ASSET BASE
Cargo handling capacity: 70 mmt
For general cargo

• 4 ship unloaders with 1,500 - 2,000 TPH capacity
• Conveyor system with 1,500 - 4,000 TPH capacity
• 12 state-of-art tyre mounted mobile shore cranes
• 10 x Liebherr & 2 x Gottwald
• Capacity of up to 1,000 mt per hour per crane
• 4 crawlers with 80 - 150 MT capacity
• 8 hoppers with a capacity of 120 CBU
• 5 locomotives, and 2 in-motion weighbridges for rake movements
• 20 automatic bagging machines with a total capacity of 42,000 mt/day Dedicated port owned fleet ? excavators, pay loaders, tippers, empty container handler, hydra lifts, reach stackers, trailers, etc.
• A 16-inch pipeline with a discharge rate of up to 600T per hour for handling edible oil 26 km of double rail line connecting port

For container cargo
Quay cranes = 5 (super post Panamax)
Rubber tyred gantry = 4
Reach stackers (Kalmar) = 10

GROWTH PLANS
Container freight station
Ro-Ro terminal
LNG terminal
Dedicated liquid bulk terminal
Bunkering facilities