Indian port resumes ship breaking activities after three years

KOLKATA (Scrap Monster) : The eastern Indian port of Kolkata is gearing up for full fledged ship breaking activity after a gap of almost three years.

Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is reported to have has restarted ship breaking operations at its Kolkata Dock System (KDS). Three medium sized vessels are being handled by the port on a trial run basis. The ship breaking facility was closed temporarily due to technical problems in 2010.

The full fledged operations are yet to commence, says Port authorities. The environmental and pollution clearance from West Bengal Pollution Control Board authorities are awaited. Once the statutory clearance from the concerned authorities is obtained, the Port is reported to commence ship breaking operations at full swing.

Kolkata Port Trust operates two dock systems- Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and a deep water dock at Haldia Dock Complex, Haldia.According to the Port officials, six berths in KDS have been reserved for ship breaking operations and the Port expects a revenue of nearly INR 5 crores during this year.It must be noted that the industry had fetched almost INR 67 crores to the Port during 2010, before being closed.

The Port of Kolkata is the oldest operating port in India.