Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (IANS) A 243-metre jetty constructed in Orissa’s Paradip port was put into operation Thursday, with Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan formally inaugurating it, officials said.
The RO-RO Jetty (Roll On, Roll Off) will help quick berthing and sailing of vessels at Paradip port in Jagatsinghpur district, some 100 kms from here, a senior port official told IANS.

Indian Oil Corp is setting up an oil refinery at the port town, which will be commissioned by March 2012.

“They have already commissioned one single point mooring for pumping crude oil to their refinery at Barunei and Haladia through pipeline,” the official said.

For this purpose, they want to operate their vessels from Paradip and need a jetty he added.

“Similarly in view of the present security scenario, a separate berth has been felt essential for Coast Guard vessels for quick berthing and sailing” he said.

The new jetty can accommodate both Coast Guard and Indian Oil vessels simultaneously, officials said.