Essar
Shipping (ESL) won the award for 'Bulk Operator of the year', at the Gateway Awards
of Excellence: Ports and Shipping 2010-11, in New Delhi on January 19, 2012.
The event was a part of the India Maritime Week (January 17-21, 2012) celebrations
in the capital.
Instituted in 2008 by leading Indian magazine Maritime Gateway, the Gateway Awards of Excellence felicitates the best industry players annually for outstanding performance in their respective fields. The award was presented to ESL for excellence in operations and in recognition of its proactive initiatives towards fleet expansion.
“Essar Shipping is one of the largest private sectors shipping companies in India, owning the largest fleet of capesize vessels. It is our endeavor to set best industry standards in health, safety and environment and this award is testimony of the same,” said Capt Anoop Kumar Sharma, CEO - Sea Transportation, ESL, who accepted the award from K Mohandas, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.
A bulk carrier, or bulker, is a merchant ship specially designed to transport
unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grain, coal, ore and cement, in its cargo holds.
Cargo ships, including bulkers, are categorized partly by capacity, partly by
weight, and partly by dimensions (often with reference to the various canals
and canal locks they fit through). For instance, Panamax is the largest size
vessel that can traverse the Panama Canal (generally, vessels with a width smaller
than 32.2 m). Capesize vessels are larger than Panamax, and must traverse the
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn to travel between oceans. Capesize bulkers are
specialized carriers with over 90 per cent of their freight comprising iron ore and
coal.
AR Ramakrishnan, MD - ESL, said, “It’s a moment of honor for
Essar Shipping to be bestowed with this prestigious award. The company has been
a frontrunner in the maritime sector and we are sure that this award will further
encourage the team to continue setting high standards in safety and quality
of operations.”
