Paradip Port Authority to extend port?s South Breakwater in Odisha

Paradip Port Authority is set to settle on a Rs 5.54 billion deal with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which quotes 9% above their estimated cost, to extend the port?s south breakwater by 500 m to dock fully loaded Capesize ships in Odisha. Paradip Port?s current dept of 16 meters restricts cargo loading capacity of Capsize ships. To better accommodate Capesize vessels effectively by 2030, it is one of five designated by the Ministry to deepen depth capacity to 18-23. The project is part of infrastructure development to support Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) in constructing a deep draft, dry bulk cargo handling terminal at Paradip Port's Western Dock. JSPL won the Western Dock deal with a noteworthy royalty bid of Rs 54 per tonne, aiming to handle coal, limestone imports, and exports of slag and steel products. This endeavor is poised to catalyze industrial growth and alleviate freight expenses. Additionally, Tata Steel and SAIL rely on Baltimore's U.S. Port for coking coal, constrained by a draft limit of 16 m. Consequently, Capesize ships there only load up to 15.8 or 15.9 m, enabling comfortable handling of Capesize vessels destined for Paradip Port. ?Previously, for all the public-private-partnership (PPP) projects, the dredging works were carried out by the port authorities concerned. But, in the case of the Western Dock project in Paradip Port,? The port?s harbour basin is protected by two breakwaters - the South Breakwater which is approximately 1,217 m long, and the north breakwater which is about 538 m long. The approach channel, which is 9,800 m long and 300 m wide, has a depth of 18.7 m. Between April and January of FY24, Paradip Port managed 119.851 million tonnes (mt) of cargo and is poised to surpass Deendayal Port in Gujarat, which handled 109.274 mt. This initiative aims to alleviate port congestion, optimize freight expenses by leveraging Capesize ships, streamline coal imports, and invigorate the industrial landscape in the port's hinterland.