Historic moment: San Fernando mothership arrives at Vizhinjam shore, receives with water salute

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After Kerala's three-decade long wait, San Fernando mothership with 2000 containers has reached the Vizhinjam coast. The ship was received with a water salute. Various tugs will bring the ship to the Vizhinjam port. After the port pilot boards the tug, he will be under the control of bringing the mothership to port. The steps for berthing the ship have started.

San Fernando is the mothership of MESK, which operates cargo services in more than 110 countries. The ship San Fernando, which had reached the outer sea last night, had approached four nautical miles by 6 am. By 10 am, mooring will be done to connect the ship to the berth with a huge rope. The mothership will be anchored within 300 m of the center of the 800 m berth in the harbour. 1500 containers will then be unloaded using automated cranes. The navigation center functioning with the software developed by IIT Madras will be in control of the whole system. All systems will be verified before the first phase is commissioned. Ministers V N Vasavan and Saji Cherian will be there.

Under the leadership of Police Commissioner G Sparjan Kumar, 1500 police have been deployed at the port for security. Under the leadership of Coastal Police AIG Poonguzhali, 64 policemen will patrol the sea in 12 boats. Fishing boats are restricted. 150 security personnel and eight Rapid Action Force personnel of the port company will be there for security.