Vizhinjam seaport inauguration: First ship from China

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vizhinjam International Port will be inaugurated in September with the arrival of a mothership carrying cranes from China. Sources in the port department said that these huge cranes will be for container movement at the port.

Three ships will arrive with cranes, but one will be delivered first and the inauguration will be done. Although the inauguration will take place in September, it will take several more months to complete the installation of the cranes.

Dr Jayakumar, CEO of Vizhinjam Seaport Limited will go to China in June in connection with delivery of cranes. A team led by the Ports Minister had decided to go, but later the decision was changed. In 2018, an agreement was signed with Zed PMC for purchases including cranes.

32 state-of-the-art cranes are being delivered. This includes 8 Super Post Panamax cranes and 24 Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry cranes. The total price is Rs 1500 crores. It will take about a month to install the cranes at the port.

Cranes

1. Super Post Panamax

This is for lifting the containers onto the ship. These cranes are 95 meters tall, 65 meters long and are worth Rs 80 crores for one.

2. Mounted gantry

Cantilever rail mounted gantry cranes are for container handling. It is moved to and fro by rails above the berth.

Construction at fast pace

Despite unfavourable weather conditions, port works are progressing rapidly with the aim of inauguration in September. With the onset of monsoon, the work will have to be stopped for a day or two. Out of the 347 crores to be paid by the government as the first installment of the breakwater construction, Rs 22 crores is due to Adani Group.