Kollam Port
Kollam Port or Port of Quilon is one of the oldest ports (established in AD 825) situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from Downtown kollam (formerly Quilon). It is the third largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities and one of the four Kerala ports having immigration checkpoint (ICP) facility. Located on the south-west coast of India, it was an important port from the ninth to the seventeenth centuries. Kollam was one of the five Indian ports visited by Ibn Battuta.
Layout
The wharf at Kollam Port is 177 metres (581 ft) in length and 12 metres (39 ft) wide with an available draught of 6.5 metres (21 ft), whereby vessels up to 15,000 DWT can berth directly. Dredging works are underway at the port to increase the draught to 10 metres (33 ft) at a cost of Rs.5.7 crores so that ships of 170 metres (560 ft) and above can easily anchor without the need to travel further to Kochi, Thuttukudi or Chennai. The wharf is protected from the waves by a 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) seaboard breakwater and a 500 metres (1,600 ft) leeward breakwater. The length of the wharf will be increased to 200 metres (660 ft) in due course. In 2007, Kollam Port handled about 500,000 tonnes of cargo.
Hinterland and cargo
The primary hinterland of Kollam Port extends to Pathanamthitta and the southern parts of the Kottayam and Idukki districts; the central and southern parts of Alappuza district, Kollam district and Thiruvanathapuram district with the Kanyakumari-Thirunelveli-Madhurai and Teni districts of Tamil Nadu. Commodities currently handled or planned for the port include marble, tiles, sand, titanium ore, cashew nuts, kernels and nut shell liquid, seafood, clay, timber logs, sillimanite, titanium dioxide, blood products, newsprint and waste paper, cement, urea and muriate of potash for fertilizer, rubber, food, agricultural products and cement as well as other commodities and products for local companies such as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Trivandrum and Kerala Minerals and Metals.
Development and modernisation
Several major modernization projects have been proposed for Kollam with Maldives port in order to transform it into the “port city of Kerala”. Projects already planned are some of the largest ever mooted for the state. A facelift of the Maruthadi-Iravipuram area will be carried out by the government as part of the “Kollam Port City” project and will include facilities for sports, fishing, tourism and entertainment. Dredging works are going on for increasing the depth of the port, so that huge ships can easily anchor at the port. As part of the modernization, Government of Kerala have already established a Maritime Institute at Neendakara in Kollam city.
Funding
The Indian State Cabinet approved a detailed project report to develop the port in April 2012. Split into two phases, the first will require an investment of Rs 1.11 billion and the second Rs 12.5 billion. The government has already invested Rs 7.106 billion as part of the first phase. A wharf will be laid out to the southeast of the port in the second stage of development. A wharf with the capacity to accommodate six ships at a time is also planned.
Services available at port
Cargo Handling
- Efficient handling of various types of cargo, including bulk, breakbulk, and containerized cargo.
- Warehousing and storage facilities for goods.
- Logistics support for inbound and outbound goods.
Passenger Ferry Services
- Kollam Port is known for its coastal passenger ferry services connecting various locations along the Kerala coast.
- This includes ferry services to destinations such as Alappuzha and the nearby islands.
Fishing Harbour
- A dedicated area for fishing activities, providing facilities for the fishing community.
- Cold storage and auction facilities for the fisheries sector.
Customs and Trade Services
- Support for customs clearance and regulatory procedures for international trade.
- Services to facilitate import and export activities.
Ship Maintenance and Repair
- Facilities for minor ship repairs and maintenance.
- Docking and berthing facilities for vessels of various sizes.
Cruise and Tourism Services
- Kollam is emerging as a stop for cruise ships along the Kerala backwaters.
- Services for tourists, including access to Kollam’s scenic backwaters and nearby attractions.
Fuel and Bunkering
- Provision of fuel and other supplies for ships.
Navigation and Safety
- Navigation assistance for vessels entering and leaving the port.
- Safety measures to ensure secure port operations.
Kollam Inland Port
There is an inland terminal of Inland Water Authorrity of India situated at Asramam on National Waterway 3 in Astamudi Lake. This port is mainly for handling barges. It has a 30 m RCC jetty for berthing and has an 18 T Mobile Hydraulic Crane and three fork lifts. It has an office space of 100 sq. metres and covered storage space of 280 sq. metres. The total open storage is 3500 sq. metres. It is yet to begin full-fledged commercial operations. This terminal can be connected to sea port through inland waterways at Kochupilamoodu in Kollam Port Road through Kollam Canal.