Following the clearance, VOC Port Authority has
approved the change in shareholding and management control of DBGT, ending a
more than three-year delay in MSC’s takeover of the facility. DBGT,
which has an annual capacity of 7.2 lakh TEUs, came under MSC’s control after
its December 2022 acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics. The global deal
included 21 ports and terminals, including DBGT, but the Indian terminal’s
ownership transfer was held up pending mandatory security clearance. DBGT is
now 100% owned by India Ports and Logistics Ltd, which is fully owned by MSC.
The shipping major has also taken over operations of the terminal. The development has also ended a legal
dispute over the terminal’s revenue-sharing arrangement. MSC had challenged the
contractual revenue share payable to VOC Port Authority, seeking its reduction
from 55.19% to 45%, citing higher project costs caused by restrictions on the
purchase and installation of Chinese-made container-handling equipment. MSC has since withdrawn the case. The
55.19% revenue-share commitment was the highest ever offered in a port-sector
PPP project and, according to the source, a reduction could have resulted in a
revenue loss of around ₹300 crore for VOC Port Authority. DBGT
is currently operating at more than 100% capacity, with no available vessel
slots, highlighting strong demand for the facility.