Cochin Port, Shipyard & Vallarpadam ICTT

[arundinil]

Kochi Port's land will be a Major Luxury tourist belt zone.

Kochi and its suburbs are poised for a big leap in developmental activities in the next couple of years with the commissioning of a slew of port-related projects. To utilise the emerging potential, the Cochin Port Trust expects a boom in tourism and hospitality industries in the wake of the new projects being commissioned.



The port managementhas chalked out strategies for leasing out its prime land for mega hospitality infrastructure as well as for setting up logistics parks and container freight stations taking advantage of the upcoming Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal.

Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, told that the Port Trust Board, which met recently, has decided to lease out 57.55 acres of prime land at the South End Reclamation area.

The projects to come up there will include five-star hotels, convention centres, offices and commercial complexes, cultural centres and landscaped open spaces. The lease period would be extendable up to 60 years. The site offers a panoramic view of Kochi's backwaters.

Earlier, the public sector KITCO was engaged by the port trust to carry out a study of the land utilisation of this area on which the plan is now based.

Lease period

The Central Government has already accorded permission for leasing out certain pieces of land on upfront premium basis for the first 30 years, with a provision for renewal for another period of 30 years during which period annual rent at the rate approved by the competent authority will prevail. This was done because many potential investors had approached the port trust for lease of the land for a period of 99 years.

Although the Ministry has not agreed to 99-year lease, it is expected that the assurance of an extension by another 30 years will ensure that the investors get an assured lease of at least 60 years.

The port trust expects this offer to attract tremendous response from developers, being probably the most prime location in the Kochi city, he said.

Another interesting development, he said, is that that the port has decided to lease out about 60 acres at Vallarpadam for setting up logistic parks and container freight stations (CFSs). Being located adjacent to the upcoming International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, this offer is also likely to attract substantial response from the EXIM trade, shipping companies and CFS operators. Under this scheme, land would be leased for 30 years, on annual lease basis, for development of logistics centres and CFSs.

The port had also invited expressions of interest from reputed infrastructure developers that have experience in development and operations of SEZs, free trade warehousing zones, and industrial clusters in the Vallarpadam SEZ area.

Sources in the warehousing industry pointed out that Kochi and its neighbourhood offer tremendous potential for CFSs in the wake of the city's emergence as an international maritime hub upon commissioning

Vallarpadam terminal

Several private players and government agencies have already come out with plans to set up warehousing facilities in and around Kochi. In the backdrop of the container terminal at Vallarpadam nearing completion, the city would require at least 4-5 warehouses and CFSs in the immediate future, the sources said.

The port trust is also in the process of preparing a master plan for redevelopment of Willingdon Island and creation of a business district at south end of the Island. The port plans to engage a consultant for preparing a master plan with the objective to utilise the land optimally; to provide long-term economic benefits; to make Willingdon Island an accessible public destination with venues offering a range of uses and activities; and to set a standard for excellence and enhance the economic vitality of the port.

The objective of the master plan is to take advantage of proximity of ICTT and use the area in a planned manner so that Kochi becomes an import/export hub for the southern States.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...0550290900.htm

[robin_a_p]

The inordinate delay in completing the capital dredging work for the Vallarpadam ICTT project may lead to the postponement of the soft launch of the project's operations scheduled for later this month by the terminal operator DP World.

Informed sources in the port told Business Line that the terminal operator had made it clear to the port that there is no question of shifting its operations to Vallarpadam from the existing Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal until the 14.5 metres draught is achieved in the ICTT berth basins.





Considering the slow pace in work, it is now almost sure that the commissioning of the terminal is likely to be delayed further. The ICTT needs a draught of 14.5 metres to handle mother vessels currently calls the transhipment hubs in the region.

The dredging in the channel to 14.5 metres will require a minimum 300,000 cubic metres of silt to be dredged, which is reported to be difficult to complete in a month's time.

The sources cited the instance of port having taken close to two months to achieve 10 metres of draught in the ICTT basins to offload the cranes for the terminal in August.

Source

[arundinil]

Originally Posted by robin_a_p

The inordinate delay in completing the capital dredging work for the Vallarpadam ICTT project may lead to the postponement of the soft launch of the project's operations scheduled for later this month by the terminal operator DP World.


The dredging in the channel to 14.5 metres will require a minimum 300,000 cubic metres of silt to be dredged, which is reported to be difficult to complete in a month's time.
Source

I think, there is no surprise matter. Two reasons, I believe constitute the main reason for the current delay. Wrong time chosen for final dredging as dredging in monsoon season is like drawing lines in waters. Secondly, there weren't enough dredgers in the city. Most of the them used were smaller ones fit only for smaller dredging operations. There was a need of of larger dredgers especially specialized in hard patch operations, which came only recently. But the time, rains also played havoc.

Anyhow, already its known that the terminal will be commissioned by November. I feel its more better to clear all issues before commencement of operations, rather than solving issues after commencement.

Thanks

[reachmeprop]

Originally Posted by arundinil

Anyhow, already its known that the terminal will be commissioned by November. I feel its more better to clear all issues before commencement of operations, rather than solving issues after commencement.

Thanks

well said.

[Naseef]

Vallarpadam: MNCs keen on logistics operations

Several multinational companies have expressed keen interest in the operation of the cargo and logistics centre at Vallarpadom International Container Transshipment Container Terminal (ICTT) considering the proximity of the land for transportation.

Cochin Port Trust (CPT) has invited tenders for the construction of the terminal on 57 acres of land near the ICTT and several multi-national companies have already submitted the proposal for the same. The last for submitting tenders is November 11.

Apart from multinational companies, some Indian companies too will participate in the bid. Government agencies engaged in this business too are in the forefront to compete with the multi-nationals.

The land located very close to the ICTT has direct access to the new highway to Vallarpadam (NH47C), Vallarpadom railway station and Ro-Ro terminal. The land will be leased out for a period of 30 years on annual lease basis.

According to CPT officials, the logistics park will be utilised for CFS activities like stuffing and de-stuffing, customs procedures and clearances, storage, cargo consolidation and segregation, value- adding and other allied activities of container handling.

The LNG re-gasification terminal, promoted by Petronet LNG Ltd, is likely to be operational by December 2011 and the proximity of the transshipment terminal is an advantage for the logistic park.

There is good road connectivity to Kochi city and Munambam road. Inland waterway terminals are ready for starting a Ro-Ro service between Bolghatty and Willingdon Island which can facilitate barge service to hinterland destinations.

The logistic park can enhance the supply chain capabilities of trade/industries in the peninsula. It has been observed that logistic centres in the proximity of major container terminals undertake value-addition activities in the pre-delivery stage so that desired ‘finish’ is achieved by the cargo just before delivery.

Kochi and its neighbourhood offer tremendous potential for CFSs in the wake of the city’s emergence as an international maritime hub with the commissioning of ICTT. Logistics companies are on the lookout for prime locations around the ICTT for setting up of their CFSs.

Express Buzz

[induzcreed]

Can anybody throw some light on the status of RFP's floated by CPT for Vallarpadom SEZ? It seems like a long time for now. Even though a lot of biggies in logistic sector had shown evinced interest to the 2 CPT SEZ projects, off late it looks like sleeping over files.

[induzcreed]

A view of giant panamax super post cranes at DP World, u/c ICTT Vallarpadom

Pic Courtesy: Gokul

[Naseef]

Originally Posted by induzcreed

A view of giant panamax super post cranes at DP World, u/c ICTT Vallarpadom

Pic Courtesy: Gokul

Thanks for the post.

[induzcreed]

Kochi Marina, Bolgatty Island

Pic Courtesy: Ravi

[Naseef]

VICTT commissioning in 3 months, LNGT by 2012

Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar visited the project sites of the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam, and the LNG Terminal at Puthuvypeen on Sunday.

He inspected the facilities from the waterfront and subsequently drove to the project sites to evaluate the progress of work on these projects. Cochin Port Trust (CPT) Chairman N. Ramachandran accompanied Mr. Chandrasekhar and briefed him about the works.

He also briefed him about the various other development and modernisation projects taken up by the CPT.

A press release issued by the CPT said the construction of the terminal structures and rail connectivity was almost complete. Two lanes of the proposed four-lane road connectivity between Kalamassery and Vallarpadam are nearing completion.

Dredging

The dredging work for deepening of channels and the berth front areas is in progress. It is necessary to deepen the berth frontage basin area to 16 metres, for which specialised dredgers are at work.

Although the capital dredging of the channels has been completed, the basin dredging could start only in May last, after completion of the work by Dubai Ports World. The basin dredging suffered some delays for many reasons. Apart from encountering hard material in the basin area, the heavy and prolonged monsoon this year also contributed to the delay. It is expected that this part of the work would be completed in about two months' time. Due to uncertainties involved in capital dredging to 16-metre depth, the port would announce a firm date for commissioning the project only after a few more weeks. Mr Chandrasekhar expressed satisfaction about the progress of work relating to both the ICTT and LNG projects, the release said.

The Hindu

[ajithv]

http://dhanammagazine.com/php/archiv...s.php?top=1410

Surya TV also reported that DP World asked 65 Crores compensation for delaying the dredging process.

[e_arunsid]

The Cochin Port Trust has decided to go back to private-public participation for its Rs 200-crore international bunkering terminal where vessels calling at the port or passing that way can fill fuel

Kochi: The Cochin Port Trust has decided to go back to private-public participation for its Rs. 200-crore international bunkering terminal where vessels calling at the port or passing that way can fill fuel.

After a year of toying with the proposal from the Indian Oil Corporation to fund the project, the port has decided to request the five shortlisted companies to provide the financial modes, said P Ramchandran, port chairman.

“The port did consider the IOC business model of funding the project. But the fund would be treated as debt and considering repayment of the fund with interest, the port fears that it will land the port in a debt trap. Since it has been more than a year after IOC was asked to review its model and no favourable decision has been received, the plan has been dropped. The union shipping ministry has been informed of this and since the matter involves security risks, a detailed study of the companies is to begin very soon.

The environment impact assessment is already on,” he said.

Six companies had expressed interest in the project and those shortlisted are Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Indian Oil Tanking Infrastructure, Adani Group, Punj Lloyd Ltd and Gammon India Ltd.

It will be a multi-user liquid terminal on 26 hectares at the special economic zone at Puthuvypu, off Kochi. It will be on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis for a period of 30 years.

Initially, the facility would have a capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) which would later be doubled. With the commissioning of the international container transshipment terminal in a few months, there would be a rise in the number of vessels calling at the port. During the last fiscal, the number of vessels that called at the port went up to 1,278 from 1,082 the previous year.

“As it will be strategically located close to international maritime routes, the terminal will be an ideal location even for vessels passing by which can be fuelled using barges from the terminal. With the Kerala government reducing the tax from 12% to 0.5%, a special rate for bunkering from the terminal, it would prove advantageous to the port,” he said. Even ships passing by can use the facility where bunkering would be done with barges.

About the Rs. 3,000-crore international container transshipment terminal, he hoped to complete the work in another two months. “There has been delay in dredging the shipping channel which is expected to be completed soon and hopefully, the ICTT will be commissioned immediately after that,” says Ramachandran whose term gets over in January.

Source

[psanthosh]

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1850661100.htm

Beneficiary

According to the note, the relaxation in cabotage is expected to be implemented by this fiscal itself.

The immediate beneficiary of the proposed policy, once implemented, will be the new container terminal at Vallarpadam near Kochi.

[induzcreed]

Good news
CPT should start their port SEZ facility for logistics and production units without more delay. Otherwise it will soon become a white elephant.

[Naaz010]

Any body knows the inaugeration date of VICTT.

[Naseef]

Originally Posted by Naaz010

Any body knows the inaugeration date of VICTT.

Most prob btw Dec. & Jan...

[Naseef]

Awaiting nod for the Cruise Terminal

The cruise terminal-cum-public plaza project at the Cochin Port will come up for consideration of the Appraisal Committee for the Projects Implemented Under Public-Private Participation, on December 3.
The Cochin Port Trust is awaiting the final nod from the Union Ministry of Shipping to invite global tender for the construction of the terminal. The tendering process will start as soon as the government grants permission. “All other preliminary requirements, including land, are ready,” said Cochin Port Trust Chairman N Ramachandran. He also said that the final nod from the Ministry was expected this year itself. The scheduled date of commissioning the terminal is October 2011. The feasibility report and business plan for the project were finalised in March 2008 and transaction advisor was appointed in June 2008. Located at the north end of Willingdon Island, the Rs 375-crore terminal will have an exclusive berth of quay length of 220 metres with an available draft of 10 metre.
The terminal will have a replica of Kerala Village, shopping mall-cum-office tower and luxury hotel in addition to a world-class vessel reception facility. The passenger capacity is 3,50,000 per annum.
The cruise business at the Cochin Port is playing a major role in attracting tourists to Kerala. Despite the global slowdown, 36 cruise vessels called at Kochi in the end of March 2009. After March 11 vessels made their call at Kochi. By hosting 43 cruise ships between April 2007 and March 2008, the Cochin Port had set a new record in handling the largest number of such ships in a year in the country, pushing Mumbai and Goa far behind. There has been a steady growth in the number of cruise vessels coming to Kochi.
In 2002-03, the Port received 11 cruise ships, followed by 18 during 2003-04. While it was 19 during 2004-05, it was 22 during 2005-06. In 2006-07, 38 cruise ships arrived at the Port. The Cochin Port authorities said 38 cruise ships have confirmed their arrival from November 2010 to April 2011.

Express Buzz
11 cruise ships in 2003 to 43 in 2008, now thats a tremendous growth!!!
CPT is bearing the flag of Kochi's progress with CIAL....

[induzcreed]

Vallarupadam international container terminal by next month
Dated: Friday, November 26, 2010 12:18 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: One of the much awaited development project in Kerala, the Vallarupadam International Container Terminal at Kochi would be functional by next month, a top Union government official said Friday.

Commissioning of Vallarupadam Container terminal would increase the transhipment of containers in Indian ports, which were now being held mostly in the ports of other countries, Union Shipping Secretary K Mohandas said while addressing the 'Kerala Ports and Maritime Business Conclave' here. With an objective to provide impetus to coastal traffic and movement of cargo through inland waterways, Centre was planning to bring out a Coastal Shipping Policy in couple of months time, he said.

'The policy among other things will identify certain legal changes required and additional infrastructure to be put in the Coastal shipping and inlandwater ways sector', Mohandas said. Referring to the significance of ports development in the country, he said a recent study had projected that ports in the country had to handle a cargo to a tune of 2500 million tonnes in 2020.

Majors and minor ports put together now handle nearly 850 million tonnes of cargo, he pointed out. 'So there is a gap between the availability and requirement of facilities in the country in ports', he said adding the ports in the country function with a 91 per cent capacity utilization. This means ships have to wait for long in sea or in ports leading to delay in transaction of business, he said.

Source:http://english.manoramaonline.com/cg...5030&BV_ID=@@@

[mohammedirshad06]

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bi...RIAL&BV_ID=@@@

Just happened to saw this report in Manorama. Posting the translated version here

* Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal-Kochi is scheduled to open in 2nd week of Feb 2011, by PM Manmohan Singh. Road and rail connectivity issues will be sorted out within this week and completed by end of this month.

* Central Shipping Ministry announces 10 year shipping agenda for the country

* Special priority status will given to to Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai and Vishakapattanam ports, to raise to International level

* Centre to develop Kochi port to international levels within next 10 years, with an investment of 7000 crores

* Centre wants build two Major Ports (Ports under Central Govt) within 10 years. If State Govt gives a request to consider any state port for upgrading to Major port, Centre may consider

* Centre considers Kollam-Kottapuram National Waterway-3 to be extended to Vizhnjam port, if existing problems can be sorted out

* Centre wants to take Shipping infrastructure in India to go next level. It will invest 5 lakh crore in this sector, out of which a lion's share will go to Kochi and Kerala, under appropriate plans

All informations was made by Union Shipping Minister- Vasan while address reporters.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Great news for Kerala. I wish, Kerala Govt must immedidate act by requesting either Vizhinjam port or Beypore port to consider for National Major Port, which will make Kerala, the biggest maritime state in India and global logistics power-house.

Let more good news continue to pour in for Kochi and Kerala. Good going Kerala

[mohammedirshad06]

The International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam is expected to be commissioned before February 18. Sources at Cochin port confirmed that the Prime Minister was likely to launch the terminal between February 11 and 18 but clearance from the PMO is awaited for the exact date. It is now certain that operations at the terminal will commence during the third week of February.

The terminal is close to becoming operational after a delay of almost two years as the commencement of operations was originally scheduled for April 2009.

Port sources said the commissioning should not be delayed further as Kerala would go for Assembly polls before this May. A delay now would mean it could be launched only after the elections, thanks to the Election Commission's model code of conduct. The top brass of the port, especially the chairman, is keen to have the ICTT commissioned before February 18. The election schedule is likely to be announced by March.
Meanwhile, there is serious concern over the completion of dredging at the basin of the new terminal. Port officials told Business Standard that dredging of 450 metre of the berth would be finished by the end of this month.

The port has to provide an average draft of 14.5 metre for a quay length of 600 metre. But this would not be possible by the end of this month. The operational schedule of dredging is that, for initial operations, 450m would be enough and the additional 150 metre could be provided later. It is the inordinate delay in the dredging that lagged the commissioning at least for six months. Rail connectivity and two-lane exclusive container road will be operational before mid-February.

N Ramachandran will continue as the chairman of the port till the commissioning of the terminal.

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...feb-18/422177/