India's first semi-automated port Vizhinjam to be operational year-end
PORTS & SHIPPING

India's first semi-automated port Vizhinjam to be operational year-end

India's first semi-automated port, Vizhinjam, is set to be commissioned in September or October 2024, according to Ports Minister V N Vasavan. This port, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and advanced automation and IT systems, represents the largest private-sector investment in Kerala and is implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Preparations for trial operations are complete, and the port is ready for full commissioning, Vasavan announced. The state government had initially planned to commission the port in December 2024.

The first container ship, "San Fernando," part of the major shipping liner Maersk, will be received by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on July 12 at 10 am, Vasavan said during a press conference. The vessel, coming from China, will berth at the port on July 11 morning.

The ceremony will also be attended by Union Shipping and Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with central and state ministers, officials, and other dignitaries. Trial operations will commence on July 12 and last for two to three months. During this period, large ships will begin docking at the port, including a 400-meter-long container ship expected within weeks.

The port aims to be fully operational by September or October 2024, attracting leading global shipping companies. Large ships will unload containers at Vizhinjam, which will then be transported by smaller ships to various international and domestic destinations, enabling full-scale transshipment.

High precision and operational standards are crucial for commercial transshipment operations, with global standards maintained in key performance areas such as dwell times, vessel turnaround, berth productivity, vehicle service time, ship handling productivity, and quay crane productivity. A trial run with actual cargo-filled containers is planned for the first 600 meters of the berth, instead of using dummy containers.

The port received temporary NSPC clearance on July 2, 2024, valid until September 30, 2024. On April 2, 2024, Vizhinjam secured the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS Code). The port was officially recognised as a customs port on June 15, 2024, under Section 7A of the Customs Act 1962. The location code (IN NYY 1) was assigned on June 21, 2024. Additionally, on June 24, 2024, Vizhinjam received approval for the landing place, demarcation of the customs area, and custodianship for handling goods as per the Customs Area Regulations, 2009.

The port is still awaiting electronic data interchange and custodian code approval, as well as clearance for Immigration Check Post (ICP).

(Source: ET)

India's first semi-automated port, Vizhinjam, is set to be commissioned in September or October 2024, according to Ports Minister V N Vasavan. This port, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and advanced automation and IT systems, represents the largest private-sector investment in Kerala and is implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Preparations for trial operations are complete, and the port is ready for full commissioning, Vasavan announced. The state government had initially planned to commission the port in December 2024. The first container ship, San Fernando, part of the major shipping liner Maersk, will be received by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on July 12 at 10 am, Vasavan said during a press conference. The vessel, coming from China, will berth at the port on July 11 morning. The ceremony will also be attended by Union Shipping and Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with central and state ministers, officials, and other dignitaries. Trial operations will commence on July 12 and last for two to three months. During this period, large ships will begin docking at the port, including a 400-meter-long container ship expected within weeks. The port aims to be fully operational by September or October 2024, attracting leading global shipping companies. Large ships will unload containers at Vizhinjam, which will then be transported by smaller ships to various international and domestic destinations, enabling full-scale transshipment. High precision and operational standards are crucial for commercial transshipment operations, with global standards maintained in key performance areas such as dwell times, vessel turnaround, berth productivity, vehicle service time, ship handling productivity, and quay crane productivity. A trial run with actual cargo-filled containers is planned for the first 600 meters of the berth, instead of using dummy containers. The port received temporary NSPC clearance on July 2, 2024, valid until September 30, 2024. On April 2, 2024, Vizhinjam secured the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS Code). The port was officially recognised as a customs port on June 15, 2024, under Section 7A of the Customs Act 1962. The location code (IN NYY 1) was assigned on June 21, 2024. Additionally, on June 24, 2024, Vizhinjam received approval for the landing place, demarcation of the customs area, and custodianship for handling goods as per the Customs Area Regulations, 2009. The port is still awaiting electronic data interchange and custodian code approval, as well as clearance for Immigration Check Post (ICP). (Source: ET)

Next Story
Equipment

Handling concrete better

Efficiently handling the transportation and placement of concrete is essential to help maintain the quality of construction, meet project timelines by minimising downtimes, and reduce costs – by 5 to 15 per cent, according to Sandeep Jain, Director, Arkade Developers. CW explores what the efficient handling of concrete entails.Select wellFirst, a word on choosing the right equipment, such as a mixer with a capacity aligned to the volume required onsite, from Vaibhav Kulkarni, Concrete Expert. “An overly large mixer will increase the idle time (and cost), while one that ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Elevated floors!

Raised access flooring, also called false flooring, is a less common interiors feature than false ceilings, but it has as many uses – if not more.A raised floor is a modular panel installed above the structural floor. The space beneath the raised flooring is typically used to accommodate utilities such as electrical cables, plumbing and HVAC systems. And so, raised flooring is usually associated with buildings with heavy cabling and precise air distribution needs, such as data centres.That said, CW interacted with designers and architects and discovered that false flooring can come in handy ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

The Variation Challenge

A variation or change in scope clause is defined in construction contracts to take care of situations arising from change in the defined scope of work. Such changes may arise due to factors such as additions or deletions in the scope of work, modifications in the type, grade or specifications of materials, alterations in specifications or drawings, and acts or omissions of other contractors. Further, ineffective planning, inadequate investigations or surveys and requests from the employer or those within the project’s area of influence can contribute to changes in the scope of work. Ext..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?