DP World starts marketing of Vallarpadam terminal

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 May 2010

DP World has already started marketing initiatives for its proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam and there has been a good response from the international shipping lines for the terminal, said Capt. Anil Singh, Senior Vice-President, DP World.
Encouraged by the progress of work at the site, the terminal is expected to be ready for a soft launch by mid-July, he told reporters here on Friday. The progress is truly satisfactorily, especially the completion of 605 M of berth, a substantial part of the stacking yard and the arrival of the RTG Cranes. The ship-to-shore transfer cranes are expected by mid-June and all the equipment will be commissioned within a month, he said.
A firm date of the soft launch can be provided after the confirmation of the arrival of the ship-to-shore transfer cranes. This would be known shortly and a date will be finalised thereafter, he added.
However, Capt. Singh expressed some concern on the slow pace of dredging in the channel saying that ICTT will be made profitable only when large vessels with over 8,000 TEUs calls at the berths.
He also added that dredging and other civil works are progressing well.
Highway connectivity
Referring to the progress of highway connectivity, he said that the two-lane highway is sufficient for the initial stage of the terminal operations. Welcoming the recent announcement of the Port Trust in reducing the vessel-related charges for the ICTT, he said they were also in the process of fixing a competitive tariff for the terminal.
While the port has signalled to the trade that it will be cost effective, the issue of flexibility of operating the fleet of shipping lines is yet to be resolved by the Shipping Ministry.
Unless an early resolution happens on the sabotage issu,e the good work done by the Kochi Port cannot be leveraged on, he said.
Regarding the objection raised by the Navy, he said DP World has been given assurance by the Cochin Port Trust that Navy's recent communication would be sorted out quickly and will not, in any way, impact the commissioning of equipments and the project.
Earlier, Mr K. Mohandas, Secretary, Shipping, reviewed the progress of construction of the ICTT and its connectivity projects at a meeting held at the Cochin Port Trust.
The meeting also reviewed the progress made by different agencies in the implementation of the transshipment terminal, rail connectivity, road connectivity and dredging of navigational channel. The Secretary Shipping expressed satisfaction in the progress of work in the final phase of the project, which is expected to be completed in June.

Source: Hindu Business Line