With the aim of selecting a partner for its proposed ship repair yard, the Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) has decided to go in for a global tender. CoPT will provide 850 m of waterfront at Mattancherry channel and 45 acres of adjoining land for the project, which is part of a master plan being put together by the Port to redevelop its waterfront and other facilities, which became virtually idle after the commissioning of the Vallarpadam ICTT. This is in addition to the existing workshop and other facilities.
Experts hold the view that the repair yard would have tremendous potential as there is not enough dry docking facility in the country. Besides, its close proximity to the Vallarpadam ICTT would help ships calling at the terminal to take advantage of the repair facility.
A senior CoPT official said there was enough land available for the bidder to create a modern yard with ship-lift facility to enable the repair of several ships simultaneously. It is learnt that the project will be implemented on the public-private partnership model.
CoPT also plans to convert the container berths at Wellingdon Island (which became idle after the shifting of the container terminal to Vallarpadam) into a bulk cargo terminal.
( eximin )
[mappress]
Source: eximin, September 5, 2011; Image:cochinport