Indian industrial and energy giant Essar Group's subsidiary Essar Shipping Ports & Logistics Ltd has announced the inauguration of commercial operations of Essar Bulk Terminal at India's Hazira port, which will serve as a fully integrated transportation hub.
According to a company statement, set up at a cost of approximately Rupees 8 billion ($167.6 million), Essar Bulk Terminal is now India's second largest private dry bulk terminal with a 30 million mt per annum capacity. The new terminal has made Essar India's second largest private port operator with 76 million mt per annum capacity and with a planned capacity of 158 million mt per annum in 2013.
MV Malavika, a 53,000-dwt vessel, became the first Supramax to the 550 m-long berth at the newly constructed terminal. The dredged channel at the terminal, which is being widened and deepened further, will soon be able to accommodate mini cape-sized vessels up to 105,000 dwt.