Krishnapatnam
Port becomes first to introduce automated fertilizer handling system
HYDERABAD, JUNE 3:
Krishnapatnam Port
has installed a first of its kind Automated Fertilizer Handling System in the
country which handles cargo operations from vessel to rail or road, cutting
short handling time to hours.
Amitabh Kant, CEO,
Niti Aayog, inaugurated the automated fertilizer handling system, at the
Krishnapatnam Port, the country’s largest all-weather, deep water port located
in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on the country's east-coast.
All-weather
solution
This facility is
equipped to handle fertilizer cargo operations right from the cargo discharge
from vessel till evacuation by road/rail. This all weather cargo handling
solution will enable the port to meet the increasing demand of imported
fertilizers.
The system
integrates multiple processes to augment the fertilizer handling capacity at
Krishnapatnam Port while offering customised solutions to fertilizer importers.
Potential for
transshipment hub
Amitabh Kant said:
“New age ports such as Krishnapatnam, through automation and global
technologies play very crucial role in efficient turnaround and cost reduction.
The launch of Automated Fertilizer Handling System is a huge operational leap
for the port which connects with the Prime Minister Modi’s initiative of Make
in India and his dream of Digital India.”
“Backed with its
excellent rail and road connectivity Krishnapatnam has a great potential to
become a transshipment hub and an excellent alternative to Colombo Port,” he
said.
C Sasidhar,
Managing Director, Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. In a statement said:
“Innovation and operational efficiency has always been at the centre of the
scheme of things at Krishnapatnam Port. Demand for fertilizer cargo in India is
huge, on an average India imports about 14-18 million tonnes of fertilizer
cargo in a year. Considering benefits such as saving of time and cost along
with customisable solutions, Krishnapatnam is all poised to become the most
preferred among shipping companies and importers for fertiliser
shipments."
Handling time down
to hours
This facility will
enhance Krishnapatnam port’s existing handling capacity to more than three
million tonnes per annum. The manual handling of fertiliser cargo which prior
to AFHS used to take two to three days. This has been radically reduced to a
mere six to eight hours with the new automated system.
The procedure
includes unloading from the vessel, packaging at the port moving to warehouse,
and then loading on a rake (rail). Further, bagging and loading of the
shipments can happen anytime of the year, including rainy season as the entire
process takes place in shielded environment.
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