Cochin Port / Kochi Port
Cochin Port or Kochi Port is a major port on the Arabian sea – Laccadive sea – Indian ocean sea-route in the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala and is one of the largest ports in India. The Vallarpadam container terminal, part of the Cochin Port, is the first transshipment port in India. The Cochin port lies on two islands in the Vembanadu Lake; Willington island and Vallarpadam, towards the Fort Kochi river mouth opening onto the Laccadive sea.
The port is governed by the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA), a Government of India establishment. It was established in 1928 and has completed over 90 years of active service.
The Kochi Port is one of a line of maritime-related facilities based in the port-city of Kochi. The others are the Cochin Shipyard, the largest shipbuilding as well as maintenance facility in India; the SPM (single point mooring) facility of the Kochi Refineries, an offshore crude carrier mooring facility; and the Kochi Marina.
Services Provided by Cochin Port
Cargo Handling Services
- Container Handling: Equipped with modern container terminals to handle large volumes of containerized cargo efficiently.
- Bulk Cargo Handling: Facilities for handling dry bulk (coal, fertilizer, etc.) and liquid bulk (crude oil, chemicals, etc.).
- Break Bulk Cargo: Specialized services for non-containerized goods like machinery and project cargo.
Cruise and Passenger Services
- Dedicated cruise terminal for international and domestic cruise ships.
- Passenger services for local and inter-state travel.
Ship Repair and Maintenance
- Facilities for ship repair, refitting, and maintenance.
- Dry docks for servicing a wide range of vessels.
Bunkering and Fuel Services
- Provision of marine fuel, fresh water, and other supplies for vessels.
Port-Related Infrastructure
- Warehousing and storage facilities for various types of cargo.
- Logistics support, including transportation and cargo consolidation.Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Services
- The port houses a Special Economic Zone offering various incentives for industries and exporters.
Support for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration
- Serving as a base for offshore oil and gas operations in the Arabian Sea.
Pilotage and Towage Services
- Navigational assistance for safe entry and exit of vessels.
- Tug services for berthing and unberthing.
Environmental Management
- Compliance with green port initiatives.
- Waste management and pollution control services for vessels and port activities.
Digital and Automated Port Operations
- Advanced digital systems for cargo tracking, billing, and operational efficiency.
Navigation Channel
The entrance to the Port of Cochin is through the Cochin Gut between the peninsular headland Vypeen and Fort Kochi. The port limits extend up to the entire backwaters and the connecting creeks and channels. The approach channel to the Cochin Gut is about 1000-metre long with a designed width of 200 meters and maintained dredged depth of 14.5 meters (now dredging for 16 meters for ICTT).
From the gut, the channel divides into Mattancherry and Ernakulam channels, leading west and east of Willingdon Island respectively. Berthing facilities for ships have been provided in the form of wharves, berths, jetties & stream moorings alongside these channels.
Infrastructure Facilities
A draft of 30 ft is maintained in the Ernakulam channel along with berthing facilities, which enables the port to bring in larger vessels. In the Mattancherry channel a draft of 30 ft is maintained. The port provides round-the-clock pilotage to ships subject to certain restrictions on the size and draft. There is an efficient network of railways, roads, waterways and airways, connecting the Cochin Port with the hinterland centers spread over the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Facilities for supply of water and bunkering to vessels are available.
Cochin Port Trust
Cochin Port Trust is an autonomous body under the government of India and is managed by board of trustees constituted by the government. The board is headed by the chairman who acts as the chief executive officer. The government may from time to time nominate the trustees in the board representing various interests. The chairman is assisted by the deputy chairman who in turn is assisted by department heads and officials of the following port departments:
- General Administration
- Traffic
- Finance
- Marine
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical
New Intiatives
The CPT launched E-Thuramukham, a comprehensive enterprise resource planning implementation programme, becoming the first Indian port to do so. The project is based on SAP platform and will be customized by Tata Consultancy Services.
Cochin Port Today
The Cochin Port, as it used to be in the past, keeps a close association with various industries like oil refinery, cashew and spices exports, marine and tourism. It has grown into become one of the prominent ports in India with over 1100 vessels reaching here every year. It also handles about 13.5 million tons of cargo annually. Though the port facilities are now located on the Willington Island, it possesses a vast area at Vallarpadam and Puthuvypeen. The Port will soon emerge as a major centre for transshipment business with the setting up of the International Container Terminal at the Vallarpadam Island.
Apart from this transshipment terminal, which will be the first of its kind in India, there are other major projects on the anvil such as the setting up of an LNG Regasification Plant at Puthuvypeen. Cruise terminal facilities and bunkering terminal facilities are also available at the Port.
Cochin Port was also made a stopover for the yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race. The flow of cruise liners to the port is uninterrupted irrespective of the season and climate. Naval ships from various continents dock here, aiming professional interaction with the Indian Navy. With the e-port facility launched and transactions going online Cochin Port expects more trading relationships with countries across the world. In short, Cochin Port witnesses bustling activities throughout the year and it contributes a great deal to the emergence of the city as a prominent industrial and commercial place.