Indian port capacity to cross 1 b tonnes

Minister for Shipping, GK Vasan stated that Indian shipping will have two significant milestones in 2011. The Indian ports' capacity will cross 1 billion tonnes and tonnage carried by ships under Indian flag will cross 10 million tonnes.

He said that the ports still need to increase their capacity to meet the growing cargo traffic.

K Mohandas, Secretary of Shipping said that the port capacity at present is around 840 million tonnes.

He added that “The growth in Indian tonnage has been slightly slow as investment has not come into the shipping sector due to economic slowdown. However, the market is picking up and Indian shipping companies, including Shipping Corporation of India, will go for acquisition of ships.”

Source: Maritime Gateway