Vizhinjam (Port)

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Adani Ports starts constructing transhipment port in Kerala

Adani Group’s ports arm, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), has started construction of the first berth at the country’s international transhipment project of deep-water multi-cargo port at Vizhinjam in Kerala. The project will be Kerala’s first-ever deep-water container transhipment port, with a deep draft of 20.5 meters and the first phase of the berth being constructed will be 800 metres in length.

Three oil companies keen on Vizhinjam Port

Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are studying the possibility of bringing oil products in oil tankers to Vizhinjam port and distributing them. Thiruvananthapuram: Three major oil companies in the country have shown interest on the possibility of bringing oil products in ships to Vizhinjam. This along with the Union shipping ministry sending a file to the prime minister’s office recommending exemption in cabotage law for the port is making things look up for the Vizhinjam port. Following this, representatives of Adani Group and Srei-OHL consortium, which had taken part in the Vizhinjam tender, visited the port site again. Chief minister Oommen Chandy has called a meeting with the oil companies and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited on the seventh. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are studying the possibility of bringing oil products in oil tankers to Vizhinjam port and distributing them. At present, petrol and diesel are brought via road and supplied to the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu such as Kanyakumari. Bringing oil products in ships is being considered because transporting them in railway wagons was stopped after the storage facility near Kochuveli railway station was abandoned. Another reason is the difficulty in transporting oil products via road in Kerala, where highways have not been developed. But, huge facilities will have to be built for oil companies to store these products. Requests have been made to procure land for this purpose. If the government acquires land, oil companies will pay for it. The only condition is that there should be a railway line from Vizhinjam port. At least 50 acres will be needed for it. It is advantageous to investors who are planning to build the port on BOT basis that Vizhinjam, without much exports or imports, could get such a business. Investors have also considered the fact that there is agreement on Vizhinjam project in Kerala among political parties. But bunkering facility for oil tankers should be part of the project. It also needs rail connectivity. Source: Manorama

Vizhinjam Port received first container ship on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Vizhinjam Port received its first container ship on Tuesday, but the event also exposed the shortcomings of this small port. The port lacks a tug to guide ships in and cranes for off-loading large containers from the ships. It is understood that the port officials placed these issues before Ports Minister K Babu, who visited the port on Tuesday. The container vessel, MV Karuthal, arrived here on Tuesday morning as part of a trial run at various small ports in the state. It docked at the new wharf shortly after 12 noon. According to shipping agents Blue Sky Ports Services Pvt Ltd, the ship carried 94 containers. Captain Zaw Win Thein leads a 15-member crew on the Trans Asia Line vessel. The ship arrived here from Dubai via Beypore and will leave for Kollam at 8 am on Wednesday. Its long journey will end at Kochi, where the containers will be off-loaded. http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article1509317.ece