Though the much-hyped International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam is yet to bring any fortune to the Cochin Port Trust (CPT), the investment climate in the port sector in Kochi has started to show some positive signs. Major private and public sector companies have now started evincing interest in the joint venture projects mooted by the CPT.
The upcoming Ship Repairing Yard and the cement terminals, both developed with the participation the public sector or private companies, are pointed out as examples of the changing attitude of companies to investment in port-related projects.
After shifting of container handling to ICTT, the Port Trust is now focusing on developing the Ernakulam Wharf as a major bulk cargo consolidation centre of South India. The CPT has already invited bids for the mechanisation of Q8-Q9 berths. It is expected that the cargo traffic of the port will increase from the 20 MMT of 2011 to 51 MMT in 2017. As an indication of this positive change, one more cement terminal is being set up at the Cochin Port, with private participation. Cement manufacturers Zuari Cements have won the tender and auction for developing a cement handling terminal at CPT. This will be the third cement handling terminal at the Port. Ambuja Cements and Ultratech Cements are already operating terminals with a capacity of three lakh tonnes and two lakh tonnes per annum, respectively.
Port authorities said that a fourth terminal, which will have a handling capacity of upto 10 lakh tonnes per annum, would also come up at the premises soon.
“During the last two-three years, the labour relations at the port have improved a lot. There has not been any strike by the port staff since May 2009. This atmosphere is certainly an attraction for a reason for companies be attracted,” said CPT chairman Paul Antony.
With regards to the proposed Modern Ship Repair Yard, seven major players, including Cochin Shipyard Limited and Sultan Marine International etc have evinced interest. The project is based on the lease-model envisaged in the Government Guidelines for Private Sector Participation in the Major Ports, issued in 1996.
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