The Hindu Business Line : Lowering of cranes: Kochi port, Navy settle issue

THE issue of lowering of the harbour mobile cranes in the container terminal of the Kochi port following objections raised by the Navy have been settled amicably.

The naval authorities at the Southern Naval Command had demanded lowering of the cranes for its smooth aircraft operations even while container ships are anchored in the gantry berth of the port.

The Navy had raised objections on the height of the two Gotwald cranes erected in the terminal on the ground that these cranes were affecting the smooth flying path of naval aircraft from the training base of INS Garuda situated near the container terminal.

The cranes, with 100 tonne capacity each and 50 metres outreach, were installed by terminal operator for smooth container handling operations.

Senior naval officials at the Southern Naval Command said here that the Navy had established a hotline connection with the terminal operator, India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd (IGTPL), to inform about the flying time of naval aircraft to enable the terminal operator to lower the cranes.

A senior official of IGTPL said that the hotline connection was established in the operational centre of the terminal and the Air Traffic Control of the Navy. Following this, both the organisations could be able to co-operate much better.

In emergency requirements, the booms of the cranes are lowered to pave way for a smooth flying operation of naval aircraft. The downtime of the cranes is minimised.

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