WASHINGTON: Traffic throughput at the Kochi port went up by five lakh tonnes during the financial year 2015-16 compared with the previous financial year. The total cargo handled by the port during the last financial year stood at a record 22.1 million tonnes. The increase in cargo traffic has also led to substantial growth in operational income and operational surplus for the port authority.
Though there was considerable dip in the movement of oil cargo, handling of containerised and bulk cargo like cement moved up during the period, sources said. The operating income of the Cochin Port Trust increased from Rs.386 crore to Rs.433 crore, and it recorded an operational surplus of Rs.67 crore. The operational surplus in the previous year was Rs.19 crore.
The gross figures for the port trust for the period showed a negative influence through large pension liability. However, the gross loss, which was pegged at Rs.72 crore in the previous year, was brought down by Rs.12 crore to Rs.60 crore in the just concluded financial year. A total of 1,629 ships called at the port during the 2015-16 financial year as against 1,476 ships during the previous financial year. The port also witnessed increased bunker sales. The growth, according to sources, was 66 per cent vis-à-vis the financial years.
The port authority also saw increased productivity. The average pre-berthing waiting period for ships at the port came down to 1.39 hours from the previous 1.84 hours. The average turnaround time for ships reduced from 2.54 days to 2.18 days. The port trust has been showing increased productivity and better cargo throughput over the last few years. However, the port’s recurring expenditure on maintenance dredging has been eating into its profits.
