The Kochi port has requisitioned additional dredging to enable entry for the vessel carrying quay cranes for the proposed Vallarpadam project on schedule.

The port in a statement said that unexpected obstruction in the ICTT basin has affected dredging for the Vallarpadam project as well as delayed the entry of the vessel carrying quay cranes. The vessel had arrived at the outer anchorage on June 24.

Although the contractor had deployed three dredgers of 14,300 cu m capacity, an unexpected hard patch 35 meter wide and 300 meter long parallel to the jetty could not be cleared.

Subsequently, a specialized mechanical dredger from Mumbai was deployed from June 29 to remove the hard patch. To further expedite the work, the port's grab dredger Nehru Satabdi would be engaged on payment basis. Earlier in May, the port had berthed two vessels carrying RTG cranes for the project at ICTT berth which had required lesser draft, the statement said.

It may be recalled that the port had engaged Jaisu Shipping for capital dredging to deepen and widen the channels and basin areas. The work has been completed in the outer and inner channels and work in the basin area started on May 1 after the area was handed over by DP World. More than 90% of the overall capital dredging work has been completed.

(Sourced from BL)