Ganges Bulk Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (GBTPL), a joint venture promoted by Bothra Shipping Services and Ripley Stevedoring, is advancing the mechanization of Berth No. 5 at Haldia Dock Complex after securing the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.
The company is simultaneously undertaking terminal development and cargo operations, with the berth already handling dry bulk vessels using newly deployed equipment.
Speaking on the project, A.K. Mehera, CEO of GBTPL and former Deputy Chairman of Haldia Dock Complex, said the terminal is being mechanized at an investment of approximately ₹695 crore and is expected to be commissioned during the second quarter of FY 2027-28.
As part of the first phase of development, GBTPL has deployed two electrically operated Liebherr LHM 425 Mobile Harbour Cranes, which have been in service since March 2026. According to the company, the terminal has handled nearly 750,000 tonnes of dry bulk cargo over the past three months using the new cranes.
The terminal is currently achieving cargo handling productivity of around 25,000 tonnes per day, a level that exceeds the performance of several other berths at Haldia and is expected to improve vessel turnaround times for dry bulk cargoes.
Upon completion, the fully mechanized terminal will feature three Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), three mobile hoppers, two stacker-cum-reclaimers, a 2.5-km conveyor system, a rapid wagon loading silo, and other supporting infrastructure. The integrated system is designed to enable end-to-end mechanized cargo handling, improving operational efficiency and reducing logistics costs.
Construction activities at the berth are currently progressing at full pace. Industry stakeholders note that GBTPL’s ability to sustain productivity levels of around 25,000 tonnes per day, particularly for dry bulk vessels making two-port calls at Haldia, is providing a significant boost to trade confidence and reinforcing the port’s role as a key gateway for bulk cargo movement on India’s eastern coast.
