The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Vizhinjam container terminal to have berths for cruise liners

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Vizhinjam container terminal to have berths for cruise liners

T. Nandakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proposed deepwater container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam, near here, will offer berthing facility for cruise liners, giving a fresh impetus to the growth of tourism in the neighbouring beach resort of Kovalam.

A high-level official in the ports department told The Hindu that the Vizhinjam seaport would provide state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate giant luxury ships carrying thousands of passengers.

"We are looking at the potential to develop Vizhinjam and Kovalam as a stop-over for luxury liners plying on international routes.

The tranquil conditions inside the container port will be ideal for berthing large cruise vessels.

The entire tourism industry in the region, especially Kovalam, stands to benefit from the big-spending tourists travelling in these ships," he said.

Project officials say the development of the terminal would lead to a significant increase in the number of business travellers and tourists. This will translate into higher occupancy levels in existing hotels and development of new resorts, they point out.

Regional circuits

The project report for the Vizhinjam seaport also points to the possibility of developing regional tourism circuits linking Kovalam with popular destinations like Colombo, Maldives and Lakshadweep.

Seeking to allay concerns raised by a section of resort owners and hoteliers, Chief Executive Officer of the Vizhinjam Seaports International Limited (VISL) Jayakumar said the proposed container terminal would be located five km away from the Kovalam beach.

"The channel entrance for the proposed port is located nine km away from Kovalam to ensure that ship movement does not impact on tourism. The Kovalam beach, the waterfront from Kovalam to the fishing harbour and the beach stretches along Adimalathura and Poovar will be left untouched.

The development of the port is confined to a three-km stretch of the coast south of the existing fishing harbour," he explained.

No displacement

"There will be no displacement of fishermen for the project. Not a single tourist resort will be acquired or relocated.

A handful of resorts at Mulloor will find their sea view interrupted by the busy port but they will be the ones to benefit most from the enhanced tourist traffic," Mr. Jayakumar said.

According to a report submitted by the technical consultants, fishing activities are also expected to benefit from the Vizhinjam project. Computer simulation studies reveal that the construction of a breakwater for the port would enhance the tranquil conditions inside the fishing harbour and ease the berthing of fishing vessels.

The studies show that the development of the terminal would have no adverse impact on the coastal environment.

According to a study conducted by IL& FS, the strategic advisor to the project, the Vizhinjam project will save valuable foreign exchange to the tune of Rs.1,000 crores annually by providing the facility to transfer container cargo from mother ships to smaller vessels.

The inherent advantage of a 24-metre draft endows Vizhinjam with the potential for development as a mega container transhipment hub capable of handling the giant post-Panamax class of carrier ships.

Eighty per cent of Indian containers are currently handled at the hub ports of Colombo, Salalah and Singapore.

The first phase of the Vizhinjam project, estimated to cost Rs.1,850 crores, envisages the construction of a 1,245-metre-long berth to handle vessels of 8,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). The phase is slated to be completed in five years.

In the second phase, four more main lines and nine feeder berths will be constructed. In the final phase, the berth will be lengthened to 2,860 metres enabling monster ships of 12,000 TEU to dock.

The total cost of the project is put at Rs. 4,200 crores.

As many as 17 companies, including foreign firms, have expressed interest in developing the Vizhinjam terminal.

The last date for submission of techno economic bids for the project is July 31.

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