SCI aims for expansion, bids for KoPT's transloading biz

KOLKATA: The Shipping Corporation of India is actively looking at expansion into allied port and shipping services.

"We have in principal decided to enter into offshore business and we have also bid for transloading activity for the Kolkata Port Trust," SCI chairman and managing director S Hajara said here today.

"No plan for offshore business has been drawn up so far, but we intend to get into it," he said when asked whether the company was planning to buy rigs, during a seminar organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2006, ONGC and SCI had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a joint venture for ONGC's offshore operations.

In 2008, SCI had planned to invest Rs 1,200 crore in offshore services area but it did not take off.

SCI has partnered Bocium, Sea Bulk-Canada, ILFS and IFHPL for bidding in a consortium for the proposed Rs 580 crore transloading facility at Kanika Sands off Orissa coast.

"The final structure has not yet been worked out, but we want to be the lead partner in the consortium," Hajara said.