APM Terminals Pipavav received the Chemtech Leadership and Excellence Award

APM Terminals Pipavav, which is operated by Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd (GPPL), has received the Chemtech Leadership and Excellence Award for being the fastest-growing port in the country.

Mr Prakash Tulsiani, Managing Director of GPPL, received the award from Mr K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra, here recently. Chemtech Foundation is one of the leading industry associations that creates interactive platforms for strategic alliances across six industries.

"This is a special achievement for us, as 2009 was a difficult year for the maritime industry across the world," observed Mr Tulsiani. "We completed several upgradation projects for the Port by May 2009, and moved into a marketing phase. We set up offices in different locations to promote the Port and its strengths to our customers. I owe this success to all our employees who have put in a lot of effort to make this happen so quickly."

APM Terminals Pipavav, part of the A. P. Moller-Maersk group, is a gateway offering integrated Port services to North-West India. Located 153 nautical miles from the ports in and around Mumbai, it is strategically positioned to serve the North-West hinterland comprising not only Gujarat, but also Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi NCR, which generates a large variety of cargo.

During 2009, several projects were completed at APM Terminals Pipavav. These include installing new post-Panamax quay cranes; dredging to increase the draught to 14.5 m and enhancement of railway infrastructure. The Port has also installed reefer plugs for refrigerated cargo.

As of December 2009, the Port’s facilities include an award-winning state-of-art, environment-friendly coal yard; berth length of 1,075 metres—total of 4 berths ready for operations; 5 post-Panamax cranes and 3 Panamax cranes with the post-Panamax ones having an outreach of 18 containers across a ship; 18 twin-lift capability fuel-efficient, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, 10 of which are environment friendly; covered warehouses and open stackyards; weighbridges and railway sidings; port users’ complex; and new Customs House and employees’ port colony which are under construction.

In addition, APM Terminals Pipavav has the right to develop approximately 1,561 acres of land, of which it has developed approximately 485 acres, Exim News Service reports.

(Source: Transport Weekly)