The Kochi Port will float a new global tender to complete the capital dredging work in its channel following the sudden stoppage of work by the contractor Jaisu Shipping Company.

Official sources in the port said that the new global tender would also include maintenance dredging in the channel for the year 2011-12, which has to commence at the earliest before the onset of monsoon.

The tender formalities would be completed soon and the port would be able to award the work to start the dredging operations shortly, he said.

The sources said that Jaisu Shipping has so far not been able to achieve the targeted 14.5 meter draught in the ICTT berth basin and the port, as per contractual agreement with the DP World, had to provide that draught to enable mother vessels to anchor at the Vallarpadam Terminal. The Shipping Ministry has been informed about the developments in Kochi Port.

(Sourced from Business Line)