PORTS OF CALL

India Approves Plan to Invest $9B to Build Mega Port Near Mumbai

Vadhavan will expand capacity on the Arabian Sea and will become of the 10 largest ports in the world (JNPA)

PUBLISHED JUN 19, 2024 6:26 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

The Indian government today approved plans to create a new port on the west coast north of Mumbai that they contend when completed will become one of the world’s top 10 ports. The Vadhavan Port is designed to increase capacity and be part of a vital trade corridor between India, the Middle East, and Europe.

The location which is less than 100 miles north of Mumbai is critical as the region only has two ports currently. The Mumbai port is constricted in growth capacity by the city and has a lower natural draft, while the Jawaharlal Nehru Port primarily handles containers. Vadhavan has a natural draft of up to 20 meters (65 feet) so that it can handle the largest ships in the world. It will be an all-cargo port with zones for containers, dry and wet bulk.

An Australian company first proposed a port for the region in 1997, but the project did not proceed. The Indian government began the effort to design Vadhavan in 2015.  Today, the cabinet approved spending more than $9.1 billion for the construction of the port which will be jointly owned by the port authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board.

 

Site plan for the mega port (JNPA)

 

The port will include nine container terminals, each over 3,200 feet long, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth.

The government will reclaim 1,448 hectares of sea area and construct over six miles of offshore breakwater and container or cargo storage areas. The port will have a total annual capacity to handle nearly 300 million tons of cargo. By 2035, they expect the port will handle 15 million TEU annually and grow to 23 million TEU by 2040. 

It is one of the most ambitious projects proposed by the government of recently re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is part of a vision to make India into an industrial powerhouse and first-world trading partner. 

MSC Containerships to Use Shore Power in Hamburg as Port Expands Capacity

MSC signed an agreementto use shore power for both its containerships and cruise ships (HHA)

PUBLISHED JUN 19, 2024 7:13 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

A month after Hamburg inaugurated its shore power capability for containerships, the port authority reports it has signed an agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The container carrier giant will begin using shore power on its container vessels making it the first shipping line to be using shore power both for its cruise ships and containerships in the port.

Hamburg began developing its shore power capabilities more than two years ago. The Hamburg Container Terminal (CTH) was the first of the major terminals outfitted with the capability which was tested earlier this year and inaugurated with a CMA CGM containership in May. The terminal is operated by Eurogate. Hamburg reports it is the first large port in Europe capable of providing shore power for containerships.

The plant at the CTH has three connection points, each with an output of 7.5 megavolt amperes. The electricity used comes 100 percent from renewable sources. CTH can handle three mega-ships at one time using shore power.

The plant was financed in roughly equal parts by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg with support from the federal government. The total cost of the plant is around $14 million.

 

 

“After we signed a joint letter of intent with MSC Cruises in June last year to use shore power in the Port of Hamburg, I am delighted that MSC now wants to work with us to make shipping and port operations more environmentally friendly by using shore power for container ships in the Port of Hamburg,” said Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer of HPA.”

The port highlights that it is continuing to build its capabilities and is also in discussion with more shipping lines. The other container terminals in Hamburg are currently being equipped with shore power systems.

A new shore power system for cruise ships calling at Hamburg went into operation at the Cruise Center Steinwerder in April 2024. The HPA reports that in addition to MSC, Carnival Corp. including Princess Cruises as well as TUI Cruises, Fred. Olsen, Phoenix Risen, and Norwegian Cruise Line have also committed to using shore power. 

The port is also developing a new cruise terminal in HafenCity. The terminal is currently under construction. It will be outfitted to provide shore power when it opens in 2025.