CPT invites EoI for dredging work

Aimed at reducing financial burden by way of dredging the channels, the Cochin Port Trust is planning to entrust dredging work for a long term, up to 12 years. The port management has invited Expression of Interest(EoI) in this regard.

In the past, dredging for maintaining the depth of channels and basins at the port was carried out through annual maintenance dredging contracts.

The present dredging contract is with the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) for a period of three years from 2011-12 to 2013-14.

The huge degrading cost had badly affected the financial health of CPT. The dredging cost rose to `110 crore from `35 crore in the 2011-12 period after the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal was commissioned.

At the same time, the port is yet to get a considerable income from ICTT. The heavy expense for dredging has badly affected the financial status of the port management prompting it to introduce certain austere measures.

Following this, the port management had been looking into the possibilities of reducing dredging cost.

According to sources, the Port Trust is considering the possibility of awarding the work of maintenance of the channels and basins of the port for a period of 12 years.

KITCO was entrusted to carry out the study for better utilisation of the dredged material and to explore the possibility of resorting to need-based dredging. “The study reveals that sand sedimentation in the channels can be used as construction materials or for creation of embankment.

The study further reveals that the materials can be used as raw material for manufacturing bricks and tiles,” said a key official of the Port Trust.Currently, the dredged materials are dumped at designated dumping areas located in deep waters about 20 km from the entry to the port.

Earlier, the Ministry of Shipping had rejected a request by the port management seeking assistance to purchase a dredger. The ministry asked the management to consider the possibility of awarding the dredging contract for a long term up to 20 years.