ChPT inks MoU with Port of Halifax

The Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has signed a historic sister port agreement with the Port of Halifax, Canada, for cooperation in fields like maritime transportation, and port development and the mutual promotion of the two Ports, Exim News Service reported.

Both the ports have a rich history of maritime operations over a century and have a similar cargo profile.

According to a press release issued here, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will encompass exchange of experts’ technical cooperation in port management, covering operations of specialised terminals like containers, exchange of knowledge, tourism development and development of trade between the two Ports.

The Port of Halifax is the only port on the East Coast of Canada capable of accommodating post-Panamax container vessels with seamless intermodal connections to its hinterland in North America and is Canada’s Atlantic gateway to the world.

In the course of identifying opportunities in marketing its trade, the Halifax Port Authority has realised India’s promising potential in global markets and with India likely to dominate trade with North America in future, the Port of Halifax would be the logical gateway.

Accordingly, the Port through Jeena & Co., its Indian partner, held talks with ChPT authorities for establishing a sister port relationship and a draft MoU was signed in October 2007 for this purpose in the presence of Mr Angus Macisaac, Nova Scotia Minister for Transport and Public Works. The draft MoU was earlier approved by the Union government.

Chennai Port has always been keen to absorb technology and state-of-the-art practices in the port and shipping sectors from leading ports in the field and this accord will be a major breakthrough with regard to its future projects.

ChPT has taken several initiatives in the recent past, including going ahead with the second container terminal which is expected to become operational in May this year and the longest elevated expressway from the Port to Maduravoyal on National Highway-4.

ChPT’s most ambitious venture so far is the 2-km long mega container terminal planned in the north of the existing outer harbour for handling ultra-large container-ships of 15,000-Teu and above.

Source: Transportweekly