The Union shipping ministry has recently cleared
a proposal of Kolkata Port Trust and the West Bengal state government to build a
deep sea transshipment facility and jetty south of Sagar Island.
The proposed facility is likely to be located
south of Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal. The Union government will float a
global tender in January 2006 for appointment of a consultant to study the
feasibility of the project.
The maximum draft of 10m at Sagar Islands would
not be enough for a deep-draft port and therefore the consultant will be asked
to identify a location with at least 12-13m draft.
The consultant will carry out a cost benefit
analysis of various locations around Sagar Island. A draft of 15m will be ideal
but if the cost was too high, the facility could come up with 13m draft.