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| It
has been decided to appoint a Consortium of Ocean Blue Boating,
Mumbai and STARK Communications, Trivandrum, as the Event Management
Team for managing India Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09
to be hosted jointly by the Cochin Port Trust and the Kerala Tourism
Department. The 39,000 nautical mile long race is expected to be
at Cochin between 3-14th December 2008. The Event Manager is expected to appoint separate Teams for media management, on water technical operations, race village management, IT and Audio visual requirements as well as a Management Team for the day –to-day events. It is expected that the Core Team will be in position within the next fortnight or so. As already announced earlier, SPORT 18, a division of Network 18 and Screenary Media Pvt Ltd., have been appointed as the Marketing Managers for the event. These teams have already commenced functioning. |
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| A team from Ericsson, Sweden (headed by Mr Richard Brisius, Managing Director) visited Cochin Port today (9th April 2008) to discuss about the arrangements to be made at Cochin during the Indian Stopover of Volvo Ocean Race to be held during December 2008. Ericsson sponsors two racing teams in the Volvo Ocean Race. The team visited the areas at Cochin Port where the arrangements are being made for the stopover. The team held discussions with Shri N Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and officers of Cochin Port Trust and Kerala Tourism. The Ericsson team include Ms Gunilla Solheim and Ms Sarah Persson, Event Managers. |
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| Kochi
in India to host Volvo Ocean Race for first time The official website for the Volvo Ocean Race India Stopover volvoracecochin.com was launched by Shri Cherian Philip, Chairman KTDC at a function held at Hotel Mascot, Thiruvananthapuram on 2nd April 2008, in the presence of Shri N Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and Dr V Venu, Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Kerala. During the function Shri N Ramachandran made a presentation on the event, which is happening in India for the first time. The Race will commence its round-the-world marathon sailing in October 2008 and cover more than 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the world. Starting from Alicante in Spain, it would stopover at Cape Town, Cochin, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St.Petersburg. The participants of the Race require physical endurance and sheer grit of the highest order to deal with life at the extreme, as they race day and night for more than 20 days at a stretch in some of the legs, facing potential dangers such as gales and storms, ice bergs, ocean debris and the whales! The Race is the ultimate in world class water-sporting competition on the extreme edge of adventure, drama and endurance. It is for the first time in the 35 year history of the Race, regarded as the ultimate in ocean racing competition that an Indian Port has been chosen for the stopover, after extensive evaluations by the Race organisers and negotiations that went on for more than a year. Kochi will witness a 10 day visual extravaganza of the most exciting water sport action that India has ever witnessed. Apart from the world's fastest ocean racing yachts with state-of-the-art technology backup, the event would also attract hundreds of other luxury yachts and sailing vessels of different depiction, making the event truly spectacular. The Race is scheduled to stop over in Kochi for 10 days, from December 3 to 13, 2008. The Event will jointly be hosted by the Cochin Port Trust and Department of Tourism, Govt of Kerala. Several high profile global corporate leaders as well as some of the world's topmost brands and business houses that sponsor the competition boats and teams, will gather at Cochin during the stopover period to cheer their respective race teams. The stopover will enable the global corporate sponsors to hold networking conclaves with leaders of Commerce and Industry of the host country at the stopover ports. The Kochi stopover is an opportunity to showcase India as an emerging economic giant while highlighting the country's business potential as well as its tourism potential. Thus the event is truly a unique mix of the ultimate in sport, glamour and business. The Race and the stopover events would be extensively covered in electronic, print and news media across the world, ranging from newspapers to lifestyle and glamour magazines. Large sections of the international print and electronic media persons are likely to cover the events at Kochi. Port Sponsor and co- sponsors for the India Stopover event will be finalised by the Cochin Port Trust and Kerala Tourism shortly through a bidding process. Shri K Kunhikrishnan, Media Advisor for the event, Shri Cyril C George, Secretary, Cochin Port Trust and Shri K G Mohanlal, Managing Director, KTDC were also present during the launch of the website. ****** |
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JIJO THOMAS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER 0484 2667722 VOR-03/2008 03 APRIL 2008 |
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| In the picture from left to right- Shri K Babu MLA. Prof K V Thomas MLA, Mr Andy Hindley, Race Director, Volvo, Dr V Venu IAS Principal Secretary Tourism, Govt of Kerala, Shri Kodiyeri Balakishnan, Minister for Tourism,Govt of Kerala, Shri. N Ramachandran IPS, Chairman,Cochin Port Trust, Shri Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDCand Shri KG Mohanlal, Managing Director, KTDC |
| Kochi
in India to host Volvo Ocean Race for first time Portsmouth (England) – 18 January, 2008 – Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, is confirmed as the host of the second stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in December 2008. The Indian stopover will come at the end of the second leg of the race from Cape Town, South Africa. Kochi will be the first of three new ports in Asia. At the Abad Plaza in Kochi today, the stopover port agreement was signed by Andy Hindley, Race Director for the Volvo Ocean Race; Mr. N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and Mr. KG Mohanlal, Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Also present at the press conference were Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the Hon. Minister for Home, Vigilance and Tourism and Dr. Venu, Secretary of Kerala Tourism. The Cochin Port Trust, which will be responsible for organising the stopover, with the full backing of the Kerala Tourism Department, welcomed the signing of the port agreement today and is confident that the stopover will give Kochi great exposure. “India has never hosted such a prestigious sailing event and we are very excited that Kochi has been chosen,” said Mr Ramachandran. The booming shipping port on the Malabar Coast, the closest Indian port to the international sea routes, is now one of India’s foremost tourist destinations and the race stopover is sure to bring thousands of additional visitors to both Kochi and the State of Kerala. The Kerala State Tourism Department envisages the event will bring significant visibility as well as economic benefit to the region. “Kerala Tourism sees this as an opportunity to project Kochi as an exciting destination, and we will be happy to extend all support to the Kochi Port Trust to bring the event to the State,” Dr Venu commented. The Yachting Association of India (YAI), an active advocate of the race coming to India, sees the hosting of a stopover as an important boost to India’s ongoing campaign to establish itself as a venue for hosting major sporting events following its successful bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010. “Hosting one of the world's top three sailing events will obviously boost any future bid to host major sailing as well as other sports events in India," said Commander Ajay Narang, Honorary Joint Secretary-General, YAI. “It will also be a tremendous fillip for local sailing,” he added. It is the first time that India is hosting such a prestigious sailing event and Kochi will be the only port of call in India. The seven yachts participating in the race will arrive in Kochi in December 2008 and will stay for 10 days, before starting leg three to Sentosa Island in Singapore. A race village covering 2.5 acres of land will be set up near the BTP berth at Willingdon Island. Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race commented: “It has always been part of our vision to take the race to different and wider audiences and we are delighted that Kochi has become part of that vision. India not only presents huge opportunities for the development of the event, but this coupled with the daunting challenges the competitors will face when racing their grand prix yachts in unfamiliar waters, will make the visit to India even more exciting for everyone involved. India has hundreds of millions of enthusiastic sports fans and we know they will enjoy this challenging race, with its passion, teamwork, adventure and excitement.” The 2008-09 event will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on 4 October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 39,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews. For further media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact: Lizzie (Green) Ward Tel: +44 1489 554 832: Mob: +44 7801 185 320 Email: lizzie.ward@volvooceanrace.org Full press information can be read and downloaded from: http://press.volvooceanrace.org Broadcast For broadcast-standard video supporting this press release, please go to: www.thenewsmarket.com/volvooceanrace . If you are a first-time user, please take a moment to register. For assistance, please email journalisthelp@thenewsmarket.com. Images Image Archive: http://media.vemuk.com Email: images@volvooceanrace.org Tel: 44+ 1489 554 856 To unsubscribe from this service, please send return email with the word ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject heading. |
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| To Sir,
Sub:- Press Meet
Mr Michael O Leavitt, Secretary of Health and
Human Services, United States during his visit to Cochin Port
Trust, would be meeting the media persons on 9th January 2008,
at 9. 30 AM at the Tourist Jetty, near Cochin Port Trust Guest
House.
Thanking you, *****************************************
No. PrMt/01/08/S
Date: 08-01-08 (Jijo Thomas)
Public Relations Officer Phone: 0484-2667722 |
| Biography of Mike Leavitt |
| HHS- The Department of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
Cochin
Port has embarked on a comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource
Planning) implementation programme to be christened as ‘e-thuramukham’.
This is an ambitious programme to implement a fully Integrated
Port Information System (iPINS) using a SAP – based ERP
which will help the Port to The approach was to go in for proven software products wherever possible to ensure a proven architecture, standard design of the solution, robust security features, processes based on best practices in the industry and integrate the products through a well experienced system integrator. The scope
of this project is quite comprehensive to meet the business objectives
and imperatives. Some of the business imperatives are given below:
|
| Please see the e thuramugham Newsletter |
Malayalam
Logo for e-port |
 |
English
Logo for e-port |
 |
Agreement signing ceremony for VTMS held at Cochin Port Trust on 15th Dec 07 |
 Capt Paul N Joseph, Dy Conservator CPT and Mr Rusian Kravchenko,Transas Ltd exchange the signed agreement in the presence of Sri N Ramachandran IPS,Chairman, Capt Subash Kumar, Dy Chairman and Heads of Department of Cochin Port Trust. |
| As
part of its ongoing strategy to modernise its infrastructure to
support the upcoming facilities like International Container Transshipment
Terminal, LNG Terminal, Single Buoy Mooring of BPCL-KR, Cruise Terminal
etc., the Cochin Port Trust has decided to install a state of the
art ‘ Vessel Traffic Management System’ (VTMS) to ensure
total navigational safety. The Cochin Port Trust has entered into an agreement today (15-12-2007) with M/s. Transas Ltd., Ireland, for the commissioning of a Vessel Traffic Management System at the Port. The project which is being implemented on a turn-key basis, will be commissioned by Nov 2008. Installation of VTMS facility will enable the Port to ensure total navigational safety to monitor the vessel traffic movement in the entire harbour and detect the movements of any unauthorized or unscheduled vessels in the area. VTMS will monitor the vessels in the harbour in order to prevent accidental collision/grounding/damages to underwater structures with special reference to the anchored vessels in the anchorage and those moving in the navigational channel. Installation of VTMS is a major step towards ensuring security and safety not only to the maritime sector in and around Cochin Port but also for the coastal waters within the port limits of Cochin Port. VTMS will also play an important role in the security of Port Based Special Economic Zones at Vallarpadam and Puthuvypeen where vital installations such as the Single Buoy Mooring facility (SBM) and the Storage Tank Farm of BPCL-KR are situated and a number of maritime projects including International Container Transshipment Terminal and LNG Terminal by Petronet LNG are in different stages of construction. While improving the safety and averting the risks of vessel traffic accidents in Port area the VTMS will also help monitor the position of navigational aids such as buoys, etc. in the harbour area. This system will provide necessary data to other sub-systems of the computerized Port Management Information System, which in turn will enable improvements in the official procedures and services to the customers. ***************************************** (Jijo Thomas) No.29/07 Public Relations Officer 15-12-07 Phone: 0484-2667722 |
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|
Container
Vessel entering Cochin Port |
K.G.NATH
TAKEN OVER THE CHARGE AS
FINANCIAL ADVISER AND CHIEF ACCOUNTS OFFICER
| Shri.K.G.Nath
has assumed the charge of Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts
Officer of Cochin Port Trust on 28th September 2007. He has been
working as Addl. Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer
since June 2007.
Shri.K.G.Nath is a post graduate in Commerce and an Associate Member of the Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India. A native of Ernakulam District, Shri.K.G.Nath started his career as a Commercial Trainee in Cochin Refineries Ltd. (now BPCL-KR) in 1985. He joined the Office of the Accountant General (A & E), Kerala in the year 1985 and served in various capacities. In 1992, he joined Rubber Board as an Assistant Accounts Officer and served the Organization till 1996. In June 1996, he joined Cochin Port Trust as a Dy. Chief Accountant (Sr.) I. From August 2001 to June 2007 he was working as a Dy. Financial Adviser of Cochin Port Trust . Son of late M.G. Menon and late Thankamma Menon, Kairali, Ponoth Road, Kaloor, Shri.K.G.Nath (43 years) and Smt. Kavitha G. Nath have one daughter and one son. |
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|
No.20/07 29-09-07 |
(Jijo
Thomas) Public Relations Officer Phone: 0484-2667722 |
||
WORLD’S
LARGEST LINER, QUEEN MARY 2,
TO MAKE MAIDEN CALL IN COCHIN
History will be made when Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2,
the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive liner
ever built makes her maiden call at Cochin on Wednesday, March
07, 2007. Queen Mary 2 will arrive at 1300 hours and sail at 1400hours
on March 08, 2007 and is currently on her Maiden World Cruise
which left Fort Lauderdale on 11 January and returns there on
2 April. |
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|
Everything about Queen Mary 2 is superlative and she offers a host of ‘firsts’ and exclusives. 79% of cabins feature private balconies. There is artwork worth over £3.5 million on board. The world’s first floating Planetarium offers virtual reality rides through the galaxies. A cultural academy is operated by the University of Oxford. She offers the first suites with private lift access, the first Canyon Ranch Spa at sea, the first Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar at sea, the largest Library at sea (with 8,000 hardbacks, 500 paperbacks, 200 audio books and 100 CD Roms, the largest ballroom with the largest dancefloor at sea, workshops and master classes performed by RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), the longest jogging track at sea and the largest and most extensive wine cellar at sea. And if that’s not enough, the ‘Queen Mary 2’ illuminated signs below the funnel are the largest illuminated ship’s name signs in maritime history! Queen Mary 2 has a passenger capacity of 2,620 lower berths which gives a space ratio per passenger of 57.25, making her the most spacious of the world’s larger passenger ships. The ship’s design features classic Cunard hallmarks such as grand staircases, expansive promenades, elegant grand restaurants and gracious public rooms of an imposing scale. Queen Mary 2 has 1,310 passenger cabins, of which 77.6% are outside and 72.7 % of the total number of outside cabins feature a large balcony. In the time since she entered service Queen Mary 2 has been making headlines. She has been a crowd-puller at every port she has visited for the first time; almost three million turned out when she sailed up the east coast of England at close range, followed by half a million in Hamburg in August 2005. Reaction to Queen Mary 2 has been overwhelming with passengers rating the ship highly especially when it comes to dining, service and on board facilities – which have no equal at sea today. Queen Mary 2 has entertained a range of celebrities including Antonio Banderas, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Hurley, Esther Rantzen, Sir Jimmy Savile and The Muppets. Her Royal Court Theatre has been the venue for shows from Dame Shirley Bassey. Jon Bon Jovi, Harry Connick Jnr and Beyonce Knowles while eminent visitors have included Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent, the Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg, Senator Hilary Clinton, the Prime Ministers of St Lucia and St Vincent and HRH The Sultan of Kelabtan. She was the flagship vessel at the Athens Olympics where she played host to Queen Sophia of Spain, former President George Bush and Olympic athlete royalty including Great Britain’s gold medal winner Ben Ainslie. She’s now so famous, in fact, that already six books have been published about her! InterGlobe Cruises, India’s largest cruise representation company, has been handling the sales & marketing interests of Cunard since 2004. Comments Nishith Saxena, Head-InterGlobe Cruises, “Welcoming Queen Mary 2 to Cochin is like a dream coming true. Presence of Queen Mary 2 in Cochin is a sign of faith which Cunard has in the tourism potential our country has to offer. Regular calls by cruise liners of this size at Cochin should only enhance our resolve to uplift passenger facilities at all ports. InterGlobe Cruises would continue to provide all necessary support and would act as a facilitator to ensure India remains as a favoured destination as well as a source market for all cruise brands represented by us. Our cruise brands provide InterGlobe Cruises a compelling brand recognition, strong presence and a solid platform to establish itself as a lead player in the Indian market in the years to come.” Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2, the world’s most famous ship, has been a regular caller at Cochin during her years of World Cruise service. This year Queen Elizabeth 2 would visit Cochin on March 23, 2007. |
|
|
A book named “Samay” written by Smt. T.L. Hemalatha, Hindi Officer, Cochin Port Trust was released by Dr. Devesh Chandra, Member, Hindi Salahakar Samiti handing over a copy to the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping, Thiru T.R. Baalu in the 8th meeting of the Hindi Salahakar Samiti of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Deptt. of Shipping, New Delhi which was convened at Kumarakom, Kerala on 10-02-2007 at Hotel Radisson Plaza, Kumarakom organized by the Cochin Port Trust. The meeting commenced at 10.00 am under the chairmanship of Thiru T.R. Baalu, Hon’ble Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Chairmen of all the Ports, MPs & invited guests of the members of the Samiti attended the meeting. |
Sd/- Secretary, Cochin Port Trust |
PRESS NOTE
Today
(24-2-2007) at about 1200 hours a Dredger that was working near
south end reclamation area of Willingdon Island, hit against the
Venduruthy Bridge, causing some damage to the bridge. The Dredger
Kamal XXVIII was being towed and while approaching the bridge,
the tow line snapped as a result of which the dredger went out
of control and came to rest against piers of the bridge. The senior
officers of the District and Cochin Port including Chairman, Cochin
Port and District Collector visited the spot to survey the extent
of damage. As a measure of abundant caution, it has been decided
to suspend all vehicular and railway traffic over the bridge except
two wheelers and three wheelers. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort
Cochin has issued prohibitory orders to this effect. 3. To arrange for additional Boat services to meet the requirements of the commuters between main land and Fort Kochi. 4. The District Administration will make alternative arrangements for diverting road traffic via Thevara Old Jetty Junction and Alexander Parambithara Bridge.
|
MAINLINE CONTAINER VESSEL STARTS SERVICES TO PORTS IN THE U.S.
PRESS
RELEASE |
|
Cochin Port has made yet another achievement with the commencement of scheduled weekly mainline container vessel service connecting Cochin with major ports in the U.S. The first vessel of this service OOCL Melbourne arrived Cochin on 6th January 2007 at 10 am and sailed out at 4 pm on the same day. The port rotation of the service is Colombo – Tuticorin – Cochin - Nava Sheva – Mundra – Barcelona - New York - Norfolk and Charleston. The service with a total of 8 vessels of 2800 TEUs capacity will be jointly run by the consortium comprising Zim Line, SCI, Emirates Shipping, OOCL and Italia Marittima (Evergreen). With the commencement of this service, exporters from the hinterland like Coimbatore , Tirupur , Karur , Salem, Bangalore etc who normally would have to truck their cargo to Tuticorin to connect this service will now have the benefit of connecting the same vessel from Cochin , giving them the fine advantage of an extra day to connect the vessel at Cochin . The transit time to the US East Coast will also reduce by a day as Cochin will be the last port of call in South India. These advantages will immensely help time sensitive cargo such as garments, made-ups , handloom , coir products , perishable goods etc . Since there will no transshipment involved , exporters will now be in a position to commit delivery times to their consignees. With most of the buying houses, super market chains etc working on just-in-time shipments , these direct mainline services will also assist exporters in planning their shipments to meet their buyers requirements. To facilitate the movement of additional cargo from the Inland Container Depot at Bangalore, the Container Corporation of India will run bi-weekly services to link the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal at Cochin. The bi-weekly services will start from Bangalore on (1) Saturday and on (2) Wednesday to reach Cochin by Monday and Friday respectively. While the first service would give timely connection to the mainline service to the US East Coast scheduled every Thursday from Cochin, the second service will connect the Hyper Galex Mainline service on the Westbound (Middle East) and Eastbound (China, Far East ) calls scheduled for the Saturday/Sunday from Cochin. Cochin Port had achieved the status of deep draft port in February 2006 enabling bigger vessels with direct connectivity to different continents to add Cochin to their regular schedule. Further Cochin Port Trust had announced 50% concession on vessel related charges for mainline vessels of Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) 25000 and above having capacity of 2500 TEUs or more. This concession was aimed at attracting vessels that directly connect ports in Europe, the US and the Far East. Such direct sailings eliminate transshipment of containers from Cochin through other hub ports thereby saving substantial time and money. Arrival of mainline vessel ‘M.V.Ville De Mars’ on 15th September 2006 was the first response to the promotional efforts made by the Cochin Port, which was followed by Hyper Galex, mainline service on 27th November connecting Cochin with Middle East, Far East and China. Cochin
Port and IGTPL (operator of Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal at Cochin
Port) are making efforts to attract regular mainline services to
Europe and East Africa from Cochin. It is expected that more mainline
services will connect Cochin with major ports in different parts
of the world, which will give more impetus to the prospering exim
trade in the South India. |
| No. 01/07 06-01-07 |
(Jijo
Thomas) Public Relations Officer Phone: 0484-2667722 |
| 8th Meeting of Maritime States Development Council |
| The eighth
meeting of Maritime States Development Council headed by the Union
Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, will be held
at Cochin during 20th to 22nd December 2006. The meeting will be
attended by about 100 dignitaries including Ministers from all Maritime
States and Chairmen of Major Ports and other maritime related Govt.
organizations in the country. The media will be allowed to make videographs/ photographs of the event at the commencement of the meeting at Nayanar Hall of Hotel Le Meridien on 22nd at 09.30 am. A briefing
on the Maritime States Development Council Meeting is to be held
at Nayanar Hall of Le Meridien at 12 noon. Kindly
arrange to cover the event. |
| Maritime
States Development Council to meet at Cochin ` |
| The
VIIIth meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC), the
coordinating advisory body for the integrated development of Major
and Non-Major Ports in the country, will be held at Le Meridien,
Cochin during 21st – 22nd December 2006. The meeting will
be held under the chairmanship of Thiru T.R. Baalu, Hon’ble
Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways. Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Government of India had set up the MSDC in 1997 under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Shipping with the Ministers in charge of Ports of Maritime States and Union Territories as members. The terms of reference of the Council are( i) To assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation. (ii) To consider the adequacy of existing legal frame work and statutory/legal clearances required to provide conducive legal regime for such developments. (iii) To consider formulation of a Master Plan/Perspective Plan for development of Minor Ports in the country. (iv) To monitor the development of Minor Ports, Captive Ports and Private Ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with Major Ports (v) To assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/Inland Water Transport and make suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers. The first meeting of the MSDC was held in Chennai in the year 1997 and the last meeting (VIIth) was held in Bhubaneswar in 2005. The VIIIth meeting at Cochin will be attended by about 100 delegates from different parts of the country including the Secretary and Senior Officers of the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, Chairmen of all Major Ports, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Tariff Authority for Major Ports, National Shipping Board and Indian Ports Association and senior officers from other maritime related Government organizations in the country. Cochin Port Trust is hosting the meeting on behalf of Ministry of Shipping. |
M V Seabourn Spirit
Press
Release |
| Government
of India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued two separate
notifications dated 2nd November 2006 establishing two Port Based
Special Economic Zones at Vallarpadam and Puthuvypeen within the
Cochin Port Trust. Government of India had issued similar notifications
on 29th December 2005. However, it became necessary to re-issue
these notifications after the Parliament passed the Special Economic
Zones Act, 2005. The entire matter was again considered afresh
and Government has now issued the notifications again. (Jijo
Thomas)
Public Relations Officer Phone: 0484-2667722 |
| ARTIST'S VIEW OF International Container Transsipment Terminal |
 |
| Cochin Port Trust Building (right) part of Vallarpadam island (left) |
_Vallarpadam_island_(left).JPG) |
Press
Conference |
| Shri N. Ramachandran,
Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, would be holding a Press Conference
at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 23 rd Sept, 2006 in the Conference Hall
of Cochin Port Trust to declare the decisions of the Committee
constituted to finalise the container transportation charges from
Cochin Port to various hinterland destinations. |
FIRST
MAINLINE VESSEL CALLS AT COCHIN PORT
|
| The Cochin Port’s dream to receive a mainline vessel has come true with “M.V. VILLE DE MARS” calling at the Port on 15th September 2006. The vessel arrived directly from Bandar Abbas Port (Iran) and will leave (directly) for Port Kelang (Malaysia) on 16-9-2006. By receiving this mainline vessel, Cochin Port has achieved another milestone in its endeavour to become the maritime gateway to peninsular India. ‘M.V. Ville De Mars’, a container vessel of Panama flag in the category of mother ship is owned and operated by mainline operator M/s CMA-CGM. The vessel, with 243 mtrs length, 32 mtrs width and 11.7 mtrs draft has a capacity to carry 2935 TEUs of containers. M/s IGTPL, the terminal operator of Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) of Cochin Port, achieved productivity levels matching international standards while handling containers on board ‘M.V. Ville De Mars’. Four ship-to-shore cranes were deployed for the first time at RGCT for transferring containers from this mainline vessel. Handling of two 20ft. containers in single move (ie. by a single crane) was also performed on board this vessel. A record number of 580 containers were handled within two shifts registering record 40 moves per hour. Cochin Port had achieved the status of deep draft port in February 2006 enabling bigger vessels with direct connectivity to different continents to add Cochin to their regular schedule. Further Cochin Port Trust had recently announced 50% concession on vessel related charges for mainline vessels of Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) 25000 and above having capacity of 2500TEUs or more. This concession was aimed at achieving direct connectivity to ports in Europe, US and Far East. Such direct sailings eliminate transshipment of containers from Cochin through other hub ports thereby saving substantial time and money. Arrival of ‘M.V.Ville De Mars’ is the first response to the promotional efforts made by the Cochin Port. With the start of mainline vessels, exporters and importers in the hinterland areas of Cochin Port like Coimbatore, Pollachi, Tiruppur, Erode, Karur, Dindigul, Namakkal and Bangalore and exporters from Kerala will be able to save lot of time and money while transporting their goods. In
view of the increasing container traffic in the country, Cochin
Port foresees tremendous opportunity in attracting more mainline
vessels to call at Cochin.
|
|
COCHIN
PORT OFFERS 50% CONCESSION ON VESSEL RELATED CHARGES TO MAIN LINE
CONTAINER VESSELS
|
| The Cochin Port Trust Board has decided to offer a 50% discount on Vessel Related Charges to Main Line Vessels with effect from 1st September, 2006. This concession will be applicable to all Container Vessels of GRT 25000 and above, having capacity of 2500 TEUs and above and connecting Ports in USA, Europe or China. Servicing a Mainline vessel is the dream of every container port in this part of the world. With a draught of 12.5 meters at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (it was declared a deep draught port by the Hon. Minister for Shipping in February 2006) and a substantial rebate of 50% in the marine charges for Mainline container vessels offered by Cochin Port, the dream is expected to be realized sooner rather than later. The Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal of the Cochin Port Trust, operated by the India Gateway Terminal (a DP World Group company), has been systematically laying the foundations to facilitate the handling of Mainline vessels at the Terminal. Through a combination of right skilled manpower, better reliability and more availability of equipment and reengineered processes the productivity of the Terminal has improved by over 50%. With increased productivity and on-arrival berthing the Mainline vessels are assured of internationally accepted turn around norms. In addition, the Mainline vessels will get berthing windows of their choice. This will facilitate the Mainline operators the flexibility to call at the RGCT based on their rotation. The discount
scheme will directly benefit the Mainline operators by way of
big savings in vessel related charges and also by saving extra
steaming time due to the ideal geographic location of the Cochin
Port on the main sea route. With Mainline vessels calling at Cochin,
the need for transshipment of containers at Hub Ports in neighbouring
countries could be eliminated. Direct calls will also help exporters
and importers to efficiently plan their ‘just in time’
shipments by avoiding delays or rollover of containers at the
Hub Ports. For example, the garment exporters from Tiruppur will
get additional time to get their cargo on board (as Cochin is
the Port closest to Tiruppur), which will then directly sail to
the US or Europe without transhipment at Colombo or Jebel Ali,
thus saving both time and money. It needs to be emphasized that
the imports and exports from the hinterland of the Cochin Port
will definitely become cheaper with the Mainline vessels calling
here. A Mainline vessel call to Cochin is also more logical in
view of the proximity of the hinterland of Coimbatore, Pollachi,
Tiruppur, Erode, Karur, Dindigul and Namakkal. The Green Channel
facility at the Walayar check post and the opening of the Gopalapuram
check post have provided the much needed impetus for road linkage
to the Cochin Port. Moreover, the RGCT is linked by rail from
the Inland Container Depot at Whitefield, Bangalore. Presently,
there is a weekly service from and to the ICD. The Concor officials
have also promised to increase the frequency of the services to
link Cochin Port with increase in volume. Rail connectivity can
also be very easily established to Chennai, Nagpur, Delhi and
Secunderabad as and when the traffic warrants.
|
Director
General, CISF Visits Cochin Port |
| Shri
S.I.S.Ahmed, IPS, Director General, Central Industrial Security
Force (CISF) visited the Cochin Port on 28-8-2006 and reviewed the
security arrangements at the Port, particularly the threat perception
from the water front areas. Capt. Subhash Kumar, Deputy Chairman,
Cochin Port Trust, Shri Cyril C. George, Secretary, Capt. Paul N.
Joseph, Deputy Conservator and Shri V.P.Prabhu, Sr Commandant, CISF,
Cochin Port Unit briefed the Director General about the maritime
development activities being undertaken by the Port and the security
requirements of the Port as per the International Shipping and Port
Security (ISPS) Code. Shri Umesh Kumar, IPS, Inspector General,
CISF (South Sector) and Shri V.Kamaraja, IPS, Dy Inspector General,
CISF, South Zone, Chennai accompanied the Director General. Earlier
the Director General was given Guard of Honour by the CISF personnel
and received at the Administrative building by the Deputy Chairman.
|
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AT COCHIN PORT |
| Shri N.Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust will hoist the National Flag at the K.K.Premachandran Sports Complex Near Kendriya Vidyalaya at Willingdon Island on 15-8-2006 at 8 A.M. to mark the Independence Day celebrations at the Cochin Port. Thereafter the Chairman will inspect the parade by the personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Cochin Port Unit and the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Port Trust. Officers and staff of Cochin Port Trust and their families will attend the celebrations.
|
Environmental
Clearance for Vallarpadam ICTT Project |
| The
Cochin Port Trust has been closely following up all steps required
for the environmental clearances for the International Container
Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) Project at Vallarpadam. Environmental
clearances are required for the following:
1. For the main ICTTerminal facilities at Vallarpadam Island. 2. For the National Highway connectivity project from Vallarpadam to Kalamassery and 3. For the Rail connectivity project It may be mentioned here that because of the relentless efforts made by the Cochin Port Trust, the Ministry of Environment and Forests have accorded Environmental Clearance for the construction of the four lane Highway connectivity project between Vallarpadam and Kalamassery. As for the Rail connectivity, the environmental clearance is being directly handled by the Railway Board and RVNL. As for the environmental clearance for the main terminal facilities and deepening of the channels, the Cochin Port Trust had applied for the clearances from the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Based on the issues raised during the hearing of the Expert Committee of Environment for Infrastructure Projects which discussed the case, the Ministry of Environment & Forests had asked the Cochin Port Trust in February, 2006 for a range of information and study reports for considering the case. The Cochin Port Trust accordingly appointed the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune to study the hydrological impact of various proposed constructions and deepening of the channels. The Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the National Institute of Oceanography are also involved in these studies. It may be mentioned here that the study by CWPRS and BARC will continue during the monsoon season, as the impact of monsoon winds, waves and hydrodynamics form part of the study. It is expected that the study report will be available by the middle of September, after which the data would be furnished to the Ministry. It may also
be mentioned here that the various steps required for the timely
completion of the project are being taken by the Cochin Port Trust
as per pre-planned schedules and there is no reason for concern.
|
The
Topaz ( Peace Boat ), on its 54th global voyage for Peace arrived
Cochin Port from Singapore with about 950 passengers and 300 crew,
on 6th August 2006 . The ship will sail for Mombasa, Kenya today (7th August) at 10 PM |
 |
Cochin
Port Achieves 41% Growth in Cargo Handling |
Cochin Port Trust registered a 41% growth in traffic during the
first four months of the current financial year, compared to the
corresponding period in 2005-2006. The traffic handled during April-July
2006 was 50,76,349 Tonnes, as against 35,90,547 Tonnes handled during
April-July 2005.
Average
output per day also increased 29% during the first four months of
this financial year. The average output per day was 6897 Tonnes
during April-July 2005,which rose to 8927 Tonnes during April-July
2006. It may be recalled here that Cochin Port had become a deep draft port, during Feb 2006, enabling ships having draft upto12.5 mtrs to call at Cochin Oil Terminal and Container Terminal of the Port. Reaping the benefits of the deep draft, Cochin Oil Terminal started receiving vessels having parcel size of 80,000 Tonnes and above (crude oil). Oil Tanker M.V.Trust Spirit had berthed on 19-7-2006 at Cochin Oil Terminal with 83,421 Tonnes of Arab light crude, which is an all time record in parcel size handled at Cochin Oil Terminal. The parcel size used to be in the region of 75,000 Tonnes prior to achieving deep draft status. As
regards Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal, currently operated by India
Gateway Terminal (P) Ltd, a subsidiary of D P World, the number
of containers handled during the first four months registered a
growth of 17%. During April-July, 2005, 62,697 TEUs of containers
were handled at the Port, which rose to 73,320 TEUs during April-July
2006. A total of 365 vessels were handled at the Port during April-July
2006, as against 343 during the corresponding period in 2005. Average
turn-around time of container ships fell from 1.80 days to 1.32
days during April-July 2006. |
Major
Ports Team Wins Bronze in National Beach Volley |
| Major
Ports Sports Control Board Team comprising Shri Paul Joseph, Shri
V. Manu and Shri M.T. Samuel (Coach-cum-Manager) from Cochin Port
Trust won the bronze medal in the 9th National Beach Volleyball Championship
organized by Andhra Pradesh Beach Volleyball Players Association at
Hyderabad from 5th – 8th July, 2006. |
Minister
of Shipping reviews developmental projects of Cochin Port Trust |
| Hon’ble
Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Thiru
T.R. Baalu reviewed the progress of various developmental projects
of Cochin Port Trust on 16-7-2006. Shri A.K.Mohapatra, IAS, Secretary
(Shipping), Shri A.K.Bhalla, IAS, Joint Secretary (Ports), Shri
N. Ramachandran, IPS, Chairman CoPT , Dy Chairman and other senior
officers of the Port Trust attended the meeting
Under National Maritime Development Programme Cochin Port Trust
has initiated ambitious developmental projects which includes International
Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam (2118 crores), Port
Based Special Economic Zone (1510 crores) LNG Re-gasification project
(2050 crores) Bunkering Terminal (195 crores) Railway connectivity
to Vallarpadam (246 crores) National Highway road connectivity (374
crores), Ship Repair facility (315 crores), SBM project (720 crores),
Cruise Terminal (55 crores) etc. ICTT project
at Vallarpadam has been progressing as per schedule. The India Gateway
Terminal Private Ltd (Dubai Ports World) has already taken over
Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal since 1-4-2005 and running the terminal
effectively. IGTPL has already conducted soil inspection, test piling
and studies on shipping moorings at Vallarpadam Island They have
also engaged internationally reputed design consultants for the
terminal. It is expected that IGTPL will finalise the drawings and
designs in consultation with Cochin Port Trust before 1-10-2006.
Construction of the Container Terminal at Vallarpadam is expected
to be commenced by January 2007 and to be completed by January 2009.
As regards Port Based Special Economic Zone, Commerce Ministry has
already issued notifications on 29-12-2005 and revised notification
for operationalising Special Economic Zone will be issued shortly.
IGTPL (Dubai Port World), Petronet LNG and Kochi Refineries will
be co-developers in the proposed SEZ. The
Railway Connectivity Project to the Vallarpadam is to be executed
by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd on behalf of Railway Board with the budgetary
support of Department of Shipping. Rs. 50 crores has already been
earmarked in the current year’s budget. RVNL has taken all
the preparatory actions required for commissioning of the project
on schedule.
Four
lane National Highway connectivity will be provided to Vallarpadam
by National Highways Authority of India. The length of the proposed
connectivity highway will be 17.2 kms. Environmental clearance
for the project is expected shortly. NHAI has finalized DPR and
expected to invite tenders in the month of August 2006, and award
the contract by the end of October 2006. The schedule of commencement
of work is December 2006 and the completion of the project is
within 30 months. The land acquisition process is at the final
stage and it has also been decided to make advance payment of
Rs.25 crores from the Port to facilitate completion of land acquisition
and early shifting of utilities from the proposed road alignment.
|
Cochin
Port joins the club of deep draft ports – ready to receive
container ships with 12.5M draft |
|
With the completion of the first stage of Capital
dredging work in the Cochin Port channels, the Port has joined the
club of deep draft ports, ready to handle mainline vessels requiring
drafts of up to 12.5 meters.
On January 31, 2005, Cochin Port Trust had signed a Licence Agreement with Dubai Ports International (now Dubai Ports World – DPW) for the construction and operation of an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, on BOT basis. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India had laid the foundation stone for the project on 16th February 2005. As per the Licence Agreement, operation of the existing Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) was transferred to the India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd.(Subsidiary Company of the Dubai Ports International), on April 1, 2005. At the time of transfer of operations, the existing draft was only 10 meters. Because of this draft restriction, till now it was possible to handle only feeder vessels of capacity ranging from 1000 to 2500 TEUs, at the terminal. One of the conditions of the Licence Agreement was to provide a draft of 12.5m by 16.2.2006 to enable operation of Mainline vessels of larger capacity. A draft of 12.5 m enables the Terminal to handle container ships carrying 5000+ TEUs. Operation of Mainline vessels would not only help augment traffic volumes, but would also help avoid transhipment through feeder vessels through third country ports. The stage I of Capital Dredging work to reach 12.5m draft was undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs. 33 crores, with full budgetary support from the Ministry of Shipping. This project involved the deepening of the outer navigational channel of the Port from the existing 12.8m to 13.8m, the inner channel up to the Cochin Oil Terminal from the existing 12.3m to 13.2m and the basin in front of RGCT from the existing 10m to 13.2m, the total estimated quantity of dredging being 5.6 Million m3. The contract was awarded to M/s Jaisu Shipping Co. Pvt Ltd, Kandla, Gujarat on 07/06/2005 and the work commenced on 13/6/2005. Three Hopper Trailer Suction Dredgers, one Grab Dredger and one Bucket dredger were deployed for the work. The entire work was completed by 12/2/2006. The work was completed at an actual cost of Rs. 24.7 crores, as against the estimated cost of Rs. 33 crores.
As the approach channel is common to both the Cochin Oil Terminal
(COT) and RGCT, the Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL) would also get benefited
by this deepening work as the refinery will be in a position to
get ships of larger parcel sizes. The Port also has plans to strengthen
and deepen the adjoining three berths on Ernakulam Wharf (Q5 to
Q7), so that larger bulk vessels requiring deeper draft could be
attracted.
|
Cochin
Port Announces Major Reductions in Container Handling Charges |
|
The Chairman, Cochin Port Trust Shri N. Ramachandran,
had constituted a Committee to explore and suggest ways and means
to reduce the cost of container handling at Cochin Port. The Committee
was set up under the Chairmanship of Shri H.C. Venkatesh, Traffic
Manager, CoPT and comprised representatives from the Labour Unions,
Stevedores Association, Custom House Agents Association, Steamer
Agents Association and IGTPL (Dubai Port World). After studying
the various components going into the cargo handling activity and
their costs, the Committee had submitted its report to the Chairman
recently.
In a path breaking joint meeting held today, which was attended by the representatives of Labour Unions, Stevedores Association, Custom House Agents Association, Steamer Agents Association and IGTPL (Dubai Port World) it has been decided to slash various charges levied on both import and export cargo containers. On reefer export containers, there will be a cost reduction of as much as Rs.2900 on a 20 feet container and Rs.3800 in the case of a 40 feet container. On other containers also there will be reductions on various components ranging between Rs.150 – 300.Recently, the Cochin Steamer Agents Association had brought down the cess on house stuffed and house destuffed container from Rs.400 & Rs.600 to Rs.200 & Rs.300 on 20 feet and 40 feet containers respectively and in today’s meeting they agreed to further bring it down by 50%. These steps are expected to attract more cargo to Cochin Port especially those who had diverted their cargo to neighbouring ports on account of higher handling costs in Cochin. The recent improvements in overall productivity of Cochin Port has enabled the various organisations to reduce cargo handling charges and it is expected that more reductions could be possible in case of further improvement in productivity. As a joint effort of all stakeholders including the management, labour unions and port user organisations, this development is seen as a landmark achievement. It may be mentioned here that the decision to set up a joint committee to explore reduction in cargo handling charges was based on suggestions made by one of the trade unions during a joint Consultative meeting of the Management and the Unions. In today’s meeting, the Chairman also called upon the unions to make sincere efforts towards reducing certain other hidden costs and also to work towards achieving total transparency in cost related matters. The Chairman also requested all Port Users and stakeholders to extend all help to the Port Administration in eliminating corruption that goes under the name of ghost money etc. Ruthless action will be taken against persons who are seen indulging in corrupt practices
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