APM Terminals Management B V is ready to partner with Wan Hai Lines Limited to bid for a container terminal tender floated by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as a potential bidder to secure volumes.
Last month, JNPT sought bids to privatise the container terminal, which is self-operated by the state's port authority.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) is partnering with Terminal Investment Limited to bid for the container terminal project.
CMA Terminal Holding Limited, the world's third-largest container shipping firm, plans to participate in the container terminal project, which is designed to handle 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year.
According to a shipping industry executive, APM Terminals has an opportunity in partnership with Wan Hai Lines, a carrier dominant in the Nhava Sheva region where JNPT is situated.
AP Moller-Maersk, a shipping major, also runs Maersk Line, the world's biggest container carrier, whose support can be counted upon by APM Terminals.
According to a shipping industry executive, Wan Hai Lines, ranked among the top ten container carriers, will provide APM Terminals with an extra offer on the bid.
Gateway Terminals India Private Limited, which is 74% owned by APM Terminals, runs five container terminals at JNPT. In FY21, the Container Corporation of India, which has 26% stakes, handled 1.668 million TEUs.
APM Terminals will not participate with the Container Corporation of India because the government is lining up the state-run rail haulier for privatisation.
According to industry experts, the clear vision of the volumes will provide potential bidders with the raise to quote competitive royalty per TEU, which will be the basis for deciding the successful bidder.
Also read: Dwarf container train services launched from JNPT
Also read: Visakhapatnam Port Trust to ramp up cargo handling capacity
