Navigational channel of Haldia dock improves; KoPT

Kolkata, Nov 27 (UNI) Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) today said an improvement of 0.1 metre draft in the navigational channel of Haldia dock complex, including improvement of depth at Auckland, the governing bar of Haldia dock channel, has been recorded.

Speaking to media persons here about the latest dynamics on rejuvenation of Haldia dock navigational channel, Captain A K Bagchi, Director, Marine Department, KoPT said that since second week of November there has been improvement in the channel following which the average available navigable draft at Haldia during December will be 7.1 metres, same as it was in December last year.

He informed that seven Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) dredgers are presently working at Jellingham and Auckland bars and succeded in arresting and braving the draft problem at Haldia dock.

He said this improvement of draft signifies that the average parcel load per vessel would increase by 400-600 tonnes and because of this significant development, it is expected that Haldia dock would be able to achieve the last years traffic level of 43 million tonnes.

He further informed that a high-level team headed by him, which also comprises two senior officials of DCI visited China and identified one trailer suction dredger with 3,500 cbm hopper capacity which could be deployed at Haldia dock to solve the problem.

On completion of formalities of charter of hiring of the dredger through DCI, the identified dredger is expected to be available by the end of February next, he added.

UNI RH KK DB1657