Cochin Port cargo throughput at all-time high

Cochin Port handled an all-time high throughput of 15.31 million metric tonne (MT) of cargo in 2006-07, as against 13.88 million MTs in the previous fiscal, registering an increase of 10.28 per cent.

N Ramachandran, chairman, Cochin Port Trust (CPT), said the container traffic during the period was 2,26,808 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) as against 2,03,112 TEUs handled during 2005-06, up 11.82 per cent.

Apart from liquid bulk cargo and containers, other items like wheat, zinc concentrate, iron ore pellets, timber logs and coal contributed to the growth.

Addressing a press conference here to announce the performance of the port during 2006-07, he said taking advantage of the deep draught of 12.5 metres achieved in early 2006, deep draught vessels with larger parcel sizes began to call on Cochin port during last fiscal.

The average parcel size of vessels has increased from 14,400 MT to 16,900 MT. The port also registered better productivity, with average output per ship berth day improving from 7,767 MT during previous year to 8,096 MT in 2006-07.

Regular mainline services connecting East Asia, Gulf, Europe and US East Coast had started calling at the port since November 2006.

During the year under review, the port initiated a series of measures to reduce the handling costs and to ensure a more cost-effective, congenial and user-friendly business environment.

Some of these include 50 per cent concession on all vessel-related charges in respect of mainline ships, cost reduction of Rs 2,900 for 20 ft containers and Rs 3,800 for 40 ft containers in respect of reefer export containers.

Following the damage suffered to the Venduruthy rail bridge when a dredger hit the pillars of the bridge, the CPT has taken initiative to ensure uninterrupted rail connectivity for transportation of ICD containers.

According to the arrangement, container laden rakes coming in from Bangalore ICD are terminated at Ernakulam Marshalling Yard and from there the containers are transshipped by road to the port.

The port and India Gateway Terminals Private Limited (IGTPL), the operators of the container terminal at the port, have decided to absorb the additional handling costs, till the rail bridge is restored.

He added that the port also handled the largest number of cruise ships during last financial year.

Altogether 38 cruise ships including Queen Mary-2 and Queen Elizabeth-2, world's first and second largest cruise vessels, visited the port bringing over 16,000 passengers. Kochi has had the distinction of hosting the largest number of cruise ships during the last fiscal among all Indian ports.