The Hindu Business Line : Ministry to sanction Rs 33 cr for Kochi Port expansion

THE Union Shipping Ministry has agreed to sanction Rs 33 crore to Kochi Port to deepen and widen the navigational channel and to carry out dredging operations for the development of an international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam.

Dr Jacob Thomas, Port Chairman, said that the Ministry would release Rs 3 crore before the end of March 2005 and the remaining Rs 30 crore by the end of the next financial year.

As per the BOT contract being finalised for ICTT, he said that the draught at Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) had to be increased to 12.5 metres to attract mainline vessels. The dredging work has to be carried out before the commencement of the BOT contract when RGCT would be handed over to the operators.

The ICTT is proposed to be developed for receiving the biggest container vessels with capacity above 8000 TEU. This vessel requires an outer channel width of 280 m, outer channel depth varying from 17.6 m to 15.80 m towards shore and inner channel depth of 15.75 m. But, the present channel is maintained only for 175 m width and for a depth of 12.8 m. The present maintained depth in the inner channel is 12.30 m.

The channel will also facilitate the entry of the LNG vessels to the port. However, the basin in front of the proposed LNG terminal has to be deepened to a depth of 14 m. The basin in front of the Vallarpadam site has also to be dredged to a depth of 15.75 m.

According to Dr Thomas, the dredging work had to be implemented and completed in four stages. In the first stage, the draught in the existing channel leading to RGCT and water area in front of RGCT will be increased to 12.5 m by deepening one metre immediately on completion of bid procedures of ICTT terminal.

In the second stage, the approach channel leading to ICTT and LNG terminal basin will be widened/deepened to the designed dimensions. In the next stage, the remaining portion of the water area in front of ICTT will be deepened.

Meanwhile, the Chairman said that the licence agreement for ICTT is expected to be signed with the Dubai Ports International during this month. Subsequently, the first stage of dredging such as deepening of the channel leading to RGCT has to be commenced by February 2005, he added.