China's ZHEN HUA 15 makes history; becomes first ship to be docked at Vizhinjam port

VIZHINJAM: Thursday turned historical for not just Vizhinjam but for the whole capital city as the first ever ship cruised the waters to enter the Vizhinjam international port. Chinese vessel Zhen Hua 15, which arrived on Thursday morning at 10.45 am carrying cranes, was welcomed with a rousing water salute. Zhen Hua was brought to the port with the help of three tug fleets. Tushar, captain of Adani ports owned ship, guided Zhen Hua by placing buoys from the channel to the port berth.

Just 500 meters before approaching the port berth, the tug fleet performed a vivacious water salute that lasted for a good 20 minutes. At 11 am, the first mooring (connecting the ship to the bollard) took place. The mooring was done using a large rope made of polypropylene. The mooring was done by a 16-member team of Water Link Shipping Company, Thiruvananthapuram. A total of four moorings were required. The ship was brought to the berth in an hour and a half.

Exactly at this point, the weather turned inclement and a sudden downpour lashed across the port. The Chinese captain was received by the Adani Ports authorities with a memento and a certificate. Local residents swarmed the place learning about the arrival of the ship. After the official welcome ceremony on Sunday, the cranes will be lowered and the ship will return.

Zhen Hua 15 is 34 years old and is a cargo ship built in 1989. The Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship is 233.3 meters long and 42 meters wide. The ship traversed the waters and reached Vizhinjam by travelling 4333 nautical miles. The crane is 107 meters high and weighs 1620 tons.