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Cochin Port expands operations seaward

Sajeev Kumar V.

THE COCHIN Port Trust (CoPT) has decided to extend its area of operations geographically, including into the sea, for future planned projects.

A proposal, ratified at a recent CoPT board of trustees meeting, has been forwarded to the Union Government for necessary approval and gazette notification, according to port sources.

The proposed seaward extension will cover the country's territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The present port limit is nine nautical miles (14.5 km). The jurisdiction is also to be extended to the North and South of the harbour entrance to 10 nautical miles from the present four nautical miles.

The port limit comprises land areas, the Kerala backwaters and the sea, bound by straight lines joining various areas. Some areas in the Vypeen Islands, Thevara, Edacochin, Mattanchery and Chellanam will come under the jurisdiction of the proposed extens ion. In addition, the land belonging to the port and reclaimed areas will also be included.

The proposal further suggests that all existing port installations and future constructions, such as wharves, jetties and bridges, be brought under the jurisdiction of the port for public convenience.

The extension of the port limits has become imperative considering the various developmental activities proposed to be undertaken in and around the port area in the coming years. These include a container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam, an LNG ter minal, single buoy mooring (SBM) by Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL) and an international bunkering facility.

The installation of a world-class transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam is one of the ambitious projects contemplated by the port authorities. Though the feasibility of this project was established in 1990, the project has yet to take off due to a variet y of reasons. The port is now examining the scope of implementing the project in the joint sector, and accordingly considering the proposal submitted by P&O Ports, the lone bidder. If the project materialises, modern cellular vessels will be required to call at the port, and to provide facilities for handling of these vessels, the port limit's extension will become necessary.

The KRL capacity is being expanded from 7.5 million tonnes to 13.5 million tonnes. To meet the refinery's increased demand for crude, the port will be required to handle very large crude carriers (VLCCs). SBM, it is felt, will be ideal for handling the V LCCs. With the port limit's extension, the location of the proposed SBM will fall within the port area. The port, according to sources, plans to provide additional facilities to the proposed SBM to enable it handle even ULCCs (ultra large crude carriers with capacities of 2.5-5 lakh tonnes).

Similarly, LNG vessels (LNG Petronet is setting up an LNG terminal at the outer harbour Puthuvype) have to be provided with wide clearance at anchorage.The port also plans to provide bunkering facilities to ocean-going vessels, both Indian and foreign, a s part of its expansion programme. The ships on international shipping routes can avail of the bunkers at the anchorage without entering the harbour. The proposal, though at the planning stage, is believed to have drawn the attention of a number of compa nies, the sources add.