The Hindu Business Line : ‘Kochi Port can opt to operate box terminal’

Kochi, Sept. 29 Trade union representatives on the Core Committee constituted to find ways and means to improve Kochi Port’s finances have suggested that the port management should look into the possibility of operating the container terminal after the DP World shifts its operations to Vallarpadam by the end of this year.

In his presentation at the Core Committee meeting, Mr K.V.A. Iyer, representing Cochin Port Labour Union, pointed out that operations of competing container terminals within a port are consistent with the Competition Act 2002. The Port Trust is the legally derived authority to be the facilitator for shipping under the Major Port Trusts Act. Delegation of powers to operate a container terminal to the licensee does not divest the delegator of its legally derived powers. That is the common law, he said.

Therefore, the port as a regulator may exercise the option to operate the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) as a full-fledged container terminal after the DP World vacates the premises, he added.

Coastal cargo

Mr C.D. Nandakumar of the Cochin Port Employees Organisation said that there was a sound case for the revival of RGCT. More than 10 per cent of the containers handled by the terminal operator currently are coastal cargo. The arrivals of such cargo at the port are on the rise and the port management should tap this potential with the employees currently on deputation with the terminal operator.

Moreover, the terminal operator has no right to handle coastal cargo as per Cabotage Law since Vallarpadam terminal will be an international container transhipment facility, he said.

The port management should make all out efforts to make its container freight station more-efficient and viable for receipt and delivery of containers prior to the commissioning of the Vallarpadam terminal.

For optimum utilisation of oil handling facilities, he said, the back-loading of crude oil at Cochin Oil Terminal with “nil wharfage” should be reconsidered to increase the cargo throughput.

The oil berths are presently under-utilised following the commissioning of Single Point Mooring.

The Core Committee has been constituted by the port management with heads of departments and trade union representatives as members to find out ways and means for cost reduction to tackle the financial crisis as well as increase the port’s revenue.

Mr Iyer also suggested letting out stream berths for idle berthing. The idle berthing might bring ship repair to port’s workshop. The port should also set up a modern dry bulk terminal in the area between Q-5 to Q-7 berths.

More Stories on : Shipping/Ports | Trade & Labour Unions | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Air India to hike authorised share capital to Rs 5,000 cr

‘Kochi Port can opt to operate box terminal’

Gujarat State Petroleum gets second LNG cargo

Pilots are Air India’s best paid employees

Minister urges Air India pilots to ‘see reason’

Railways help desks at major airports

Fiat to Transport Authority

Bharati Shipyard plans rights issue for capex

No new international routes for now, says Kingfisher