Vizhinjam Terminal is looking at setting up a Shore Tension System to control impact of waves and improve productivity of vessels operating in berths, especially during monsoon.
Highly placed sources said that the company has approached agencies in the Netherlands to purchase the equipment, which is expected to reach here within two months. Its installation would help handle ships better and thereby improve productivity in adverse weather.
This is the first monsoon after Vizhinjam Terminal started operations in December 2024. There has been a drop in monthly throughput in the first monsoon month of June at 99,976 TEUs compared to 1.04 lakh TEUs in the previous month. However, the achieved figure in June is more than the declared numbers in the concession agreement at 85,000 TEUs per month and the terminal is achieving more than a lakh every month after three months of its commissioning in December last year, thanks to advanced technologies. The July throughput is expected to be more than a lakh TEU, the sources said.
Shore Tension is a system that makes the mooring of sea vessels much safer and it ensures that even with strong winds or suction, the ship stays in place. A power pack puts the cylinders at the correct tension just once and then uses the forces of the ropes to keep the vessel in place.
“We expect a reasonable change in the container throughput of Vizhinjam with the induction of new Suction Mooring system. Once implemented, the new system will help reduce movement of vessels inside the terminal thereby increasing the productivity of cranes and vessel turnaround time,” said Binu K.S. of Kerala Steamer Agents Association.
MS Madhusoodanan, Director, Amity Institute of Global Warming & Ecological Studies, said the South West monsoon brings strong winds which generate large waves in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. These waves, characterised by higher heights and shorter intervals, can impact coastal areas, including ports. The intensified wave activity driven by strong winds and ocean currents during the monsoon poses a significant challenge to sea-facing ports. Large waves and strong currents can make it difficult for ships to manoeuvre in and out of the port, potentially leading to delays or even closures.