West Bengal: Operations carry on at ports despite Covid-19 scare

KOLKATA: Some of the most difficult and challenging jobs are continuing despite the Covid-19 scare. While many are confined to their homes, marine pilots of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (SPMPT) are continuing to meet ships at the Sagar anchorage, climb 3-4 floors to their decks and guide them to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia, all the while wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
"Operations at the ports of Kolkata and Haldia are continuing. While adequate precautions are being taken, we have to ensure the continuous flow of cargo during these difficult times. Our marine pilots are at the frontline of this ongoing war to get over the crisis. Though the health conditions of crews of all vessels are being closely monitored while they move towards the Sandheads, it does take courage to meet them physically, even with PPE," a senior SPMPT official said.
Operations are continuing at the ports 24x7 and medical teams are also screening crews after the ships berth (except for ships from China that are screened at the anchorage itself). The port hospitals at Kolkata and Haldia have also been equipped with isolation wards and quarantine facilities.
On Thursday, work was underway on four vessels at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS). While three vessels departed the port, five arrived during the day. On Thursday, 1,147 containers and nearly 500 tonnes of bulk/break bulk cargo was handled by KDS. The Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) saw three arrivals and seven departures. The total cargo handled at HDC on Thursday was 1,03,084 tonnes.
"This comprised 18,690 tonnes of LPG, 27,296 tonnes of High Speed Diesel, 1,569 tonnes of edible oil, 22,950 tonnes of thermal coal and 600 tonnes of containerised cargo. In addition to this, 36 fully loaded containers were delivered from HDC. Chairman Vinit Kumar is regularly interacting with senior KDS and HDC officials to ensure smooth operations. Discussions have also been held with the police and state authorities to ensure smooth transportation of port employees to their work places," the official added.