Kozhikode: Kerala is planning to regain its past glory as a maritime hub with a slew of initiatives integrating its small and medium ports into the global shipping network.
Works on freight container ships and barges are in progress to connect Kollam, Kochi, Beypore, and Azheekal ports to Colombo, the region's busiest maritime hub.
The state plans to upgrade its ports to international standards in three months as part of its efforts to tap the growing business, under the newly set up Kerala Maritime Board.
Addressing a press conference here, ports minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli said freight forwarding would be fully computerised as the first step.
“The traffic will be tracked online, and all the cash transactions will be online,” he said.
“Steps have been initiated to establish an International Ship and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) code with Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMS) system and radar in the ports. A medium shipyard will be built in Azheekal, from where at least 2,500 containers can be shipped per week. Shipping freight corridor between Azheekal and Lakshadweep will be restored.”
A ship repairing workshop will be enabled at Kollam port. Necessary mechanical engineers and staff would be hired. Small shipyards will be built at various ports, and a drydock and floating drydock facilities will be set up.
Maritime Academy would be set up in Kollam and Kodungallur, where plans are afoot to introduce various diploma, degree and masters courses in shipping and logistics.
Mangalore, Azheekal, Beypore, Kochi and Kollam ports will be connected for shipments of petroleum products through coastal areas.
As part of the port renovation, the Kerala Maritime Board is also planning to install cement terminal, LNG, petroleum products, oil tank farm, windmill, floating solar, off-shore terminal, steel rolling mills, etc.
It has been decided to invite tenders of different companies with public-private partnerships to implement various projects and development activities.
Currently, Kerala boasts of India’s first international container transhipment terminal in Kochi, while a deepwater port is coming up at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram.
