Essar Ports to develop 3 iron ore berths at Visakhapatnam Port

NEW DELHI: Essar Ports, through its wholly owned subsidiary Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, has emerged as the highest bidder for mechanisation and operation of three iron ore berths at Visakhapatnam Port.

These three berths will have a combined capacity of 23 MMTPA, Essar Ports said in a statement.

On commissioning of this project, the company's total capacity for iron ore export at the east coast will become 39 MMTPA with 4 highly mechanised iron ore berths -- three in Visakhapatnam Port and one in Paradip Port.

The company can start the operation of the two outer harbour berths within next 3-4 months as the upgradation and operation at the terminal will go simultaneously.

Vishakhapatnam port handled 12.3 million tonnes of iron ore during FY'13 in spite of slump in iron ore export, it added.