HBT to be blacklisted by Kolkata Port Trust

Kolkata: Claiming it would suffer financial losses of over Rs 1,000 crore following Haldia Bulk Terminal’s (HBT) decision to quit Haldia Port Complex, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) Thursday said it will start proceedings to blacklist the company.

KoPT would go for a re-tendering process for mechanised berths two and eight where the port equipment operator used to operate.

“Notice inviting fresh tenders will be issued Friday. The letter of intent will be out next month. We expect a new company to begin work in the two berths by March,” said acting KoPT chairman Manish Jain.

A notice would be served on HBT to encash the performance guarantee deposit of Rs 4 crore.

“We will also go for arbitration for claiming compensation,” Jain said after a meeting of KoPT trustee board.

HBT, a joint venture between ABG Infralogistics and Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, quit Bengal Oct 31 over “poor law and order” and “safety” concerns of its employees besides the KoPT’s “failure” to allot more cargo to it.

Jain said that over the next seven years, KoPT would incur losses of over Rs.1,000 crore due to HBT’s pulling out.

“We will take legal action for claiming compensation,” he said.

As an interim arrangement, KoPT has initiated talks with Tata Martrade International Logistics Ltd. (TMILL) for using its mobile harbour crane at berth number 13.

IANS