Cochin Port joins club of deep draft ports

The Cochin Port has joined the club of deep draft ports with the completion of the first stage of capital dredging in the channels. The port can now handle mainline vessels requiring drafts of up to 12.5 metres, said minister for shipping T R Balu at a function organised at the port recently.

The stage I of capital dredging work was undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 33 crore with full budgetary support from the ministry of shipping. It was completed at an actual cost of Rs 24.7 crore, according to a press release.

This project involved the deepening of the outer navigational channel of the port from the existing 12.8m to 13.8m, the inner channel up to the Cochin Oil terminal from the existing 12.3m to 13.2m and the basin in front of RGCT from the existing 10m to 13.2m.

The Cochin Port Trust (CPT) signed a licence agreement with Dubai Ports International (now Dubai Ports World "� DPW) for the construction and operation of an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam. The agreement was signed on Jan 31, 2005 on BOT basis.

Operation of the existing Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal was transferred to the India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Dubai Ports Int.), on April 1, 2005. One of the conditions of the agreement was to provide a draft of 12.5m by Feb 16, to enable operation of mainline vessels of larger capacity.

A draft of 12.5 m enables the terminal to handle container ships carrying over 5,000 TEUs. Operation of mainline vessels would not only help augment traffic volumes, but also help avoid transshipment through feeder vessels through third country ports. The contract was awarded to Jaisu Shipping Company Pvt Ltd, Kandla, Gujarat, and the work commenced on June 13, 2005. Three hopper trailer suction dredgers, one grab dredger and one bucket dredger were deployed for the work. The entire work was completed by Feb 12, the press release said. As the approach channel is common to both the Cochin Oil Terminal (COT) and RGCT, the deepening work would also benefit the Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL) as the refinery will be in a position to get ships of larger parcel sizes. The Port also has plans to strengthen and deepen the adjoining three berths on Ernakulam Wharf (Q5 to Q7), so that larger bulk vessels requiring deeper draft could be attracted. As per the agreement, the channels are to be further deepened for 14.5 metres draft and widened to 280 metres by April 1, 2009, coinciding with the commissioning of the ICTT. This draft would enable the handling of container vessels carrying over 8000 TEUs.