Dredging on at Paradip port. Telegraph picture

Paradip, June 28: Paradip port has refurbished its infrastructure by deepening the harbour to provide berth to ships carrying 80,000 metric tonnes dead weight tonnage (DWT) cargo.

The depth of the inner harbour has been raised to 14 metres as a part of a Rs 254-crore harbour development project. An official of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) said work was under way to deepen the harbour channel further.

The draft of central berth–I has been enhanced to 14 metres recently by dredging at the berth face. Now, it is equipped to accommodate 230-metre long and 33-metre wide Panama-size vessels up to 80,000 metric tonnes DWT. This berth would be effectively used to handle various types of bulk and break bulk cargo, said PPT chairman S.A.C. Bose.

The PPT has embarked on the project for hassle-free ferrying and anchorage of large ships as part of its modernisation programme.

Dredging of the harbour was on in full swing and from its existing 13-metre depth, the harbour was being deepened to 19 metres for unhindered landing of large cargo ships, said a PPT official.

“Once dredging is over, the port infrastructure would receive a lift to international standard. Large cargo-carrying ships have so far remained out of bounds for Paradip port. Hitherto, the port is equipped to provide berth to 75,000 metric tonnes DWT cargo ships. With a deeper harbour, 1.25 lakh metric tonnes DWT cargo ships can enter the port berths without obstruction,” said Bose.

“The harbour development stays in the list of priorities of projects envisaged by the port. We have pumped in Rs 254 crore for its expeditious completion. Though the project work got under way three years ago, the excavations got aground after coming in touch with under rocks,” he said.

“The Dredging Corporation of India has been entrusted with the work of extracting the rocky undersea substances. Improvised excavators have been pressed into service for carrying out the highly complicated and technical operation. The dredging is expected to be over shortly. Couple of exclusive berths to accommodate 1.25 lakh metric tonnes DWT cargo ships would later be built to enhance the cargo-handling capacity of the port,” said port’s deputy conservator Gouri Prasad Biswal.

With decline in export of iron ores since the past one year following governmental restriction on mining operation, the PPT has witnessed a downward trend of annual business transaction.

Deepening of the harbour is being perceived as a timely step for enhancing cargo handling. At the same time, a deeper harbour and berths would be effective tools to safeguard the commercial interest of the major port, said a port official.