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Mormugao port seeks to overcome Asian flu effect, attract traffic elsewhere

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Currency crisis in the Asian region is feared to affect the Mormugao Port Trust for yet another year.

The port in Vasco accounts for 46 per cent of country's total iron ore exports to countries like China, Japan and South Korea. Fifty-two per cent of MPT's total iron ore exports are for Japan, followed by 19 per cent for China. The rest 29 per cent is exported to other Asian and European countries like South Korea, Romania, Italy, Taiwan, Belgium and Turkey.

Exports to Japan and China have dropped by 18 and 24 per cent respectively in the year 1998-99. Exports to other countries have also been low.

Germany and Saudi Arabia have altogether stopped importing Goan iron ore. However, there is an insignificant rise in imports by the Netherlands, France and Pakistan.

With total traffic (exports and imports together) recording a 15 per cent drop, the trend of around 18 million tonnes of traffic would continue even next year, admits Dr Jose Paul, the MPT chairman. For the recession is expected to ease only in the new millennium.

Imports have risen 29 per cent. They related to general cargo like coal, coke and steel slabs. The container traffic has risen by 2,800 tonnes.

The port has proved economical and convenient for import of steel-related raw material for the Hospet-Bellary belt in Karnataka. The MPT authorities have requested the ministries of surface transport and commerce for transshipment facilities from Goa, using the services of South Central Railway.

The MPT authorities also await the launch of cargo movement on the new Konkan Railway sector as it would be more economical than SCR. "We expect diversion of container traffic from Bombay to Goa," says Paul.

A few private concern have evinced interest in the idea. A container freight station is being planned to be set up at Verna, 15 km from Vasco. This would be used for transportation of containers of marine products and "hapoos" mangoes of Ratnagiri.

The MPT authorities are also gearing up to compete with Jawahar Lal Nehru Port, Bombay. The MPT is expected to offer easy berthing facilties and transportation facilties via Konkan Railway to respective destinations.

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