Two yard cranes unloaded at Vizhinjam Port

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : All the crane consignment meant for the Vizhinjam Port that had arrived from Shanghai were unloaded at the port premises but the unloading operations were delayed by a day due to turbulent weather and rough sea conditions according to media reports from Kerala capital. The delay in securing India visas for the Chinese crew also delayed the unloading operations.

The two yard cranes (rail-mounted gantry cranes) were unloaded by the authorities of the Vizhinjam International Seaport on October 22nd.

The first attempt made to release the third crane was made on October 23^rd morning. However, due to strong sea turbulence, the attempt was abandoned. The second attempt was started in the afternoon when the rain calmed down. The task was completed in the evening and placed on the berth.

The process of unloading the cranes at the port was delayed due to  legal hurdles for Chinese workers to get visas to land in India. However, Minister Shri Ahmed Devarkovil said that the crew of the Chinese ship has been given permission to disembark on October 19.

The first ship from China, Zhen Hua 15, docked at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited on Sunday, October 15. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed the first ship.

The first of the three cranes was unloaded on October 20. The crane was brought down with the help of 60 experts from Mumbai at Shanghai PMC and the efforts of three more people who came on board.

The Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is a taken up by the Government of Kerala after the Vallarpadem transshipment berth ended in a failure Vizhinjam port is designed primarily to cater to container transshipment as well as multi-purpose and break bulk cargo in a state which has no manufacturing industry nor is there land to set up one.

The port’s intended breadth is 150 meters. Reclamation of the sea would make available roughly 2.5 to 2.75 km2 (600 to 700 acres). The Port would include two 1.5 km and 6 km breakwaters, as well as a harbor basin and wharves.