Coal news and updates

Gangavaram ops still suspended, Vizag almost normal

October 21: After almost a week of the landfall of cyclonic storm Hudhud, operations at Gangavaram Port remained suspended, a senior official from a shipping company told ICMW.

“There has been no change in the situation at Gangavaram Port. The scheduled vessels and those which had already arrived at the port have been diverted to nearby ports like Vizag and Kakinada,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vizag Port is slowly returning to normal. “Power supply has been restored for shore electricity cranes, except for one or two shore cranes which have damaged cables. Conveyors at OB 1 and OB 2 berths (iron ore) are also ready for operations,” the source said.

Power supply at Vizag General Cargo Berth or VGCB has been restored and may be ready for operations shortly while Adani (east quay-1 berth), Vizag seaport berths (east quay 8 & 9) – are operational, the source added.

The port is also not carrying out any night navigation in the inner harbour until further notice, the source added.

However, damages at the off-shore tanker terminal in the outer harbour, estimated to be around at Rs 50 crore, could not be repaired. “All crude tankers are presently being planned for discharge at SPM (single point mooring – at the outer anchorage),” the source said.

At berth 5 of west quay, a captive berth for NALCO, power is yet to be restored to the mechanical conveyor system. “The power is expected to be restored by October 21,” the source added.