Singapore’s PSA has inaugurated a new container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
The terminal, Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT), received its first container vessel call with the berthing of CMA CGM’s Centaurus on February 2.
The call of Centaurus, following the earlier receipt of containers by road and rail, has brought BMCT’s facilities into full operation, PSA said.
The 3,426 TEU vessel operates on the Swahili Express Service (SWAX) linking India and East Africa, together with three sister vessels from CMA CGM and one from service partner Emirates Shipping Line.
As informed, more regular service calls are expected in the coming weeks.
With 1,000 meters of berth, six super post-panamax cranes and the largest rail yard in Jawaharlal Nehru Port, BMCT is capable of accommodating some of the largest container vessels afloat, PSA said.
PSA added thst three more quay cranes are scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2018 and another three in 2019. Soon after that, the Phase 2 construction will start, bringing the terminal to an ultimate capacity of 4.8 million TEUs.
Speaking at a ceremony held on board Centaurus, Suresh Amirapu, BMCT’s CEO , said: “We intend to provide our partners with a strong platform for growth as well as significantly boost volumes at Jawaharlal Nehru Port.”
“The launch of this facility was eagerly awaited to facilitate the much needed capacity addition and infrastructural boost in Nhava Sheva,” Audrey Dolhen, Managing Director of CMA-CGM India , commented.
The construction of the terminal started in 2015, encompassing two phases with each of them adding an annual capacity of 2.4 million TEUs.
The project is worth around INR 7,915 crores (USD 1.2 billion).