Krishnapatnam Port installs automated fertilizer handling system

Krishnapatnam Port, the country's largest all-weather deep water port on the east coast, has installed a first of its kind Automated Fertilizer Handling System (AFHS) in India that is expected to boost the port's fertiliser handling capacity.

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, on Saturday inaugurated the innovative infrastructural set-up at the port in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

The AFHS is one of the most modern and technologically superior infrastructural set ups, which will be equipped to handle end to end fertilizer cargo operations right from the cargo discharge from vessel till evacuation by road/rail, the company said in a statement here.

The AFHS will enable the port to meet the increasing demand of imported fertilizers. The port is expected to meet the needs of fertilizer importers in a smart and efficient manner.

This system will increase the port's existing handling capacity to more than three million tonnes per annum.

The manual handling of fertiliser cargo which earlier used to take two to three days has now been reduced to six to eight hours.

"The Indian market typically characterised by high logistics costs makes imports and exports very expensive. New age ports such as Krishnapatnam, through automation and global technologies, play very crucial role in efficient turnaround and cost reduction," said Kant.

The CEO of Niti Aayog said the launch of Automated Fertilizer Handling System is a huge operational leap for the port, which connects with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of 'Make in India' and his dream of 'Digital India'.

"Backed with its excellent rail and road connectivity, Krishnapatnam has a great potential to become a transshipment hub and an excellent alternative to Colombo Port. Government is focusing on ease of doing business and will do everything possible to help the port," he added.

C. Sasidhar, Managing Director, Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd, said the demand for fertilizer cargo in India is huge, adding the country on an average imports about 14 to 18 million tonnes of fertilizer cargo in a year.

"Considering benefits such as saving of time and cost along with customisable solutions, Krishnapatnam is all poised to become the most preferred among shipping companies and importers for fertilizer shipments," added Sasidhar.