Development Of Port Facilities At Pipavav

Client: Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited (Gppl), Mumbai

Location: Pipavav

HOWE were appointed as Consultants for the first-ever Private Port in the country following the economic liberalisation programme. The scope of services included preparation of a Master Plan, which is the basis for deciding the financial outlays by Financial Institutions and implementation of the phased developments.

The Mean Spring Tidal Range at the location is 3.1 m and tidal currents vary from 2.5 knots at the West Channel to about 1.5 knots at the Creek.

As part of the Master Plan studies, HOWE made estimates of traffic for both short and long terms of operation of the proposed port. The estimated traffic is 4.5 Million Tonnes starting in the year 1997, when the first stage of the project was scheduled to be commissioned, and will be 11.45 Million Tonnes by 2006 AD.

The port facilitates are for handling both import and export cargo. The import cargo consists of Bulk Coal, Fertilisers and Raw Materials and Industrial Products, partly containerised, while export traffic consists of Clinker, Oil Cakes, Salt and Industrial Products, partly containerised, and partly as Bulk/Break-bulk/General Cargo.

Shipping trends with regard to ship sizes studied by HOWE for the different major commodities that were projected to be handled at the port indicated that the vessel

sizes could range from 5000-15000 DWT for LPG, 10,000-30,000 DWT for Oil

Products, 20,000-45,000 DWT for Coal, 15,000-30,000 DWT for Containers and 10,000-45,000 DWT for Fertilisers, both Raw and Finished.

Apart from the Multi-purpose General Cargo Berth and the LPG Berth facilities, traditional ship-breaking and modern ship-breaking facilities are also provided for in the Master plan.

The following are the salient features of the proposed development in the First Stage:

Civil Works

• A 200 m wide Approach Channel and a Turning Circle of 600 m dia
• A 725 m long Cargo Jetty Dredged to -12.5 m and resting on bored piles
• An LPG and POL Jetty, 300 m Long Dredged to -12.5 m
• Navigational Aids for the Channel consisting of Buoys, Leading Lights and Beacons
• The Berth configuration and alignment, have been finalised after carrying out Hydraulic Model Studies at CWPRS, Pune
• A 375 m long Guide Bund has been provided to ensure smooth flow along the Jetty.
• General-purpose warehousing facility
• Open stackyard for outdoor storage of general cargo and containerised cargo
• Roads, Drainage, a Container Freight Station, a Bonded Warehouse, Lighting, Bunkering and Potable water, Fencing, Administrative and Miscellaneous Service Buildings.

Mechanical Works

A flexible approach has been adopted in the facility to ensure effective berth utilisation for the heterogeneous cargo mix. The design adopted is of “add-on” type, such that mechanical equipment procurement could be phased out as per the handling needs of various cargo from time to time.

The following provisions have been made:

• Kangaroo Type Level Luffing Crane with Grab attachments: 2 Nos. – @ 1000 TPH each.
• Maintenance Workshop
• Fire-fighting Facilities
• Conveyor 2000 TPH, about 1000 m Long
• Multi-purpose shiploader with telescopic boom with a rated capacity of 1500 TPH: 1 No.
• On-board dust suppression system

Electrical Works

• Power Supply, Distribution and Control comprising:
• Power and Distribution Transformers:
  • 11 kV/0.433 kV, 1600 kVA: 2 Nos.
  • 6.6 kV/0.433 kV, 1000 kVA: 1 No.
• 11/6.6 kV Switchgear Panels: 4 Nos.
• Sub-Stations: 2 Nos.
• Internal Lighting
  • High Masts: 10 Nos.
  • Street Lights: 65 Nos.
• Cabling / Communications.