News Breakbulk & Project Cargo
A steel deck structure for the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link , the longest sea bridge in India . Larsen & Toubro shippers said . But as general and project cargo demand soars , ports are grappling with capacity pressures .
Ports throughout India report long waits at anchor to secure berths , particularly Kandla in the west and Kolkata in the east , where average delays range from seven to eight days . Kandla ranks second among major Indian ports for breakbulk tonnage , handling 381 ship calls in fiscal 2023 – 24 , sources familiar with Indian port operations told the Journal of Commerce .
While digitization of port and customs services has been an antidote to many paperwork-related strains , a seamless , hassle-free single window experience remains elusive . Sporadic system glitches and shortages in harbor pilotage services are further contributing to vessel turnaround delays , a cargo owner who asked not to be identified told the Journal of Commerce .
Nevertheless , industry sources remain bullish on the potential for India ’ s breakbulk and project cargo market .
“ The positives of the market far outweigh the negatives for non-container businesses ,” the cargo owner said .
Heavy cargo carriers India have multiple tailwinds as the economy expands , according to KK Krishnadas , head of non-container business at JM Baxi Group , which operates port terminals , including dedicated breakbulk and multipurpose facilities , in eight Indian gateways .
Carriers are benefiting from a more balanced flow of cargo , with backhaul volumes looking “ prettier ” than the long-time pattern of imports taking center stage in roundtrip charter fixtures , he said .
“ In the domestic market , we are witnessing major orders being pursued by Indian fabrication yards , with executions targeted for the third quarter of 2025 ,” Krishnadas told the Journal of Commerce .
Krishnadas added that projects in the energy and chemicals sectors , including for petrochemicals and refining , were major contributors to the growing demand for project cargo trade .
Expansion in renewable energy sectors — particularly wind and solar power generation — and the oil and gas , construction , and manufacturing industries is further supporting demand for project cargo transport and related services in India , according to Nikhil Kedar , commercial marketing representative in India for Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers .
“ On the export front , Indian companies are engaging in overseas projects , particularly in Southeast Asia , the Middle East and Africa , increasing the need for heavy / project cargo movement ,” Kedar said .
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Creating capacity
Spliethoff orders to bring much-needed supply to MPV market
By Keith Wallis
Multipurpose vessel ( MPV ) operator Spliethoff is strengthening its presence in the MPV sector by investing in up to 10 future-fuel-ready vessels and purchasing MPV carrier
ForestWave , even as the group remains “ fuel agnostic ,” Max van den Berg , Spliethoff Group ’ s fleet performance manager , told the Journal of Commerce .
The Netherlands-based company placed a firm order for eight 28,600-deadweight metric ton ( dwt ) ships plus options for two extra vessels from China ’ s Wuhu Shipyard Co . in September .
“ Fuel agnostic ” means Spliethoff analyzes “ most [ fuel ] options for future MPVs ,” van den Berg said . “ We see that specific alternatives suit certain trades or vessel types better .”
The company has piloted biofuels , but uptake has been very slow , he added .
“ We see that there is very little support from the market to cover the premium [ price ] that comes with the use of sustainable biofuels ,” van den Berg said . “ We hope the support from the market will pick up over time .” www . joc . com November 2024 | Journal of Commerce 17