/EIN News/ April 22, 2009 Pipavav (Gujarat), India – Ceremonies were held in Pipavav, India to inaugurate new gantry cranes and port improvements. The port is the gateway to the fast growing inland markets of Northwestern India.
APM Terminals CEO, Kim Fejfer spoke at the ceremony stating “The port’s
strategic location and excellent connectivity makes it the best choice
for shippers in the Asian, African, Middle-East, European, Mediterranean
and US trade lanes”. Mr. Fejfer switched on the first of two, new
post-panamax quay cranes recently delivered to the port, which have
expanded its container handling capacity, bringing the total number of
gantry cranes to eight. During the ceremony, the foundation stone for a
new Customs House was laid, a new fertilizer bagging plant was opened,
lifting the port’s handling capacity for bagging this key cargo from
1000 to 10,000 tons per day, and phase one for plans of a new employee
housing complex were announced.
Since APM Terminals took on the operation of Port Pipavav in
2005, the company has invested more than 11 billion rupees in port
infrastructure, including a major dredging project nearing completion in
May 2009, deepening the draft to 14.5 meters. “We are strongly
committed to India, as seen in our significant, ongoing investments at
Pipavav and at our Gateway Terminals of India facility at Nhava Sheva in
Mumbai”, added Mr. Fejfer – who also paid tribute to the public private
partnership which was integral to the establishment of the port,
thanking the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, the Gujarat
Maritime Board and investors.
Speaking about future development at the port, the Managing
Director of Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd, Mr. Prakash Tulsiani said he and
his team did not just look to the sea. “Surrounding our port, we have
at least 400 hectares of land available for expansion of port-related
services and businesses to meet trade growth for years to come. Our
Property team is working closely with potential development partners, to
ensure that we maximize the use of this land in a way that enhances the
customer experience. We welcome approaches from any potential tenant or
investor with strategic ideas to add value to the services and
facilities we currently provide – there are great business opportunities
awaiting them. Effectively, customers have a “one stop shop” for the
full range of port related services, including pilotage, towage,
Container Freight Stations, refrigerated services and pre-trip
inspections. Deepwater and all weather access makes Pipavav the obvious
port of choice for this growth area of India. We have some unbeatable
advantages over other Indian ports – in particular our strategic
location and outstanding road and rail connectivity.”
The Port of Pipavav, India’s first private sector port, has
become the most popular trade gateway for Northwestern India. It is
backed by the strength, resources and global expertise of APM Terminals
and is one of very few ports in India to offer customers completely
integrated port services. Extensive infrastructure has been developed
to handle all types of cargo including breakbulk, bulk, containerized
and liquid. The port also provides storage and warehousing, plus office
accommodations. Equally important, an ondock rail terminal at the port
has dedicated sidings for bulk and containerized cargoes and is
currently equipped to handle 22 trains per day, including regular, cost
effective, scheduled services to and from major markets throughout
Northwestern India.
About Port Pipavav
Port Pipavav, India’s first port in the private sector is an APM
Terminal, which is located in the state of Gujarat, 140 kms South West
of Bhavnagar. Port Pipavav is a multi-purpose, all weather port which
handles bulk, break-bulk and containerised cargo. The port has a total
quay length of 1075 meters, serviced by modern bulk, break – bulk and
container handling equipment. An on-dock rail facility with dedicated
sidings to handle bulk, break-bulk and containerised cargo has also been
developed.
The port is well connected to its hinterland by road as well as the
broad gauge rail network of India. The port offers weekly train services
to all major North West India ICDs. www.pipavav.com
About APM Terminals
APM Terminals, with over USD 3 billion in revenues and over 60 customers
in the container ship industry, is one of the world’s leading providers
of container port operations in 34 countries. Leveraging years of
shipping experience and the strength of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group,
APM Terminals provides the port capacity and high productivity
operations necessary to serve the constantly changing needs of the
international trade sector.
With world headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands and a Global Terminal
Network of 50 ports, including 26 port projects. APM Terminals’ goal is
to be the port industry’s leading operator.
The company invested USD 723 million in new ports and port projects in
2008, complementing 2007’s investments of USD 850 million.
www.apmterminals.com
