Beypore port plans to raise storage capacity

Jacob Thomas, Director of Beypore port assured all the stakeholders of the port that the management would examine whether it is possible to raise the storage area by occupying the land and buildings of Steel Authority of India (Sail).

Recently, stakeholders of the port demanded for increased covered storage space. Shortage of port’s own land is a hindrance for developing Beypore port,” Thomas said.

He, however, said the government will utilize the existing land for improving infrastructure facilities. He said this while addressing a meeting on coastal shipping promotional activities.

Cargo owners and shipping agents who attended the meeting demanded entry for private cranes inside the port and increasing the depth of the port. Jacob said security reasons prevent the department from permitting private cranes inside the port.

The port is learnt to be having three mobile cranes, of which two have 20-tonne capacity and one with 2-tonne capacity. Besides,the port also operates 5 wharf cranes — one with 5-tonne capacity and four with 3-tonne capacity.

The maximum depth possible at Beypore is 5 meter owing to the presence of hard laterite stone. The aim of the government is to transfer 20 percent of the cargo, presently moving by roads, to water transport by 2015, said Jacob. He has urged the stakeholders to offer cargos to Beypore port for coastal shipping.