As part of the efforts to begin trial operations for the Phase I of Vizhinjam International Seaport by April this year, the port authorities started the process of installing cranes to load, offload containers and to shift them to the yards.
As many as 11 yard cranes and four ship-to-shore cranes have to be installed.
“The installation started a few days back and it will take a month more. Nine cranes have been installed now and using empty containers their operations are being examined now,” said an official of the port.
There are several steps prior to the commissioning of the cranes before the first ship carrying containers dock the port in a couple of months.
“The installation work is done by the India unit of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC). The position of the cranes is crucial in determining the efficacy of the cranes as their functioning has to be examined using several parameters,” added the official.
The port is expected to attract around 50 percent of the ships passing through the international channel and it will become a transhipment hub. It will also open a sea of opportunities in various sectors and will also provide direct job for around 5,000 people in the beginning and lots more will benefit through indirect businesses associated with the port.
The port is unique with several special features such as its depth of over 20 metres and its proximity to the international shipping channel. The port is only 11 nautical miles away from the channel.