Tuticorin port launches state-of-art vessel management system

The VO Chidambaranar Port at Tuticorin on Friday announced the launch of a new vessel traffic management system, which incorporates state-of-art equipment like Radar, AIS, VHF, INMARSAT-C and UHF modem with latest software design for detection, tracking and analysis of all vessels in the harbour waters and beyond port limit with coverage of 48 nautical mines.

This facility, set up at a cost of Rs8.77 crore, will enhance security of the port.

The union minister for shipping GK Vasan also inaugurated a modern green gate port entry complex and occupational health centre at the port hospital.

The modern green gate complex, constructed at a cost of Rs11.02 crore, has four entry points and four exit points for congestion-free movement of cargo and container vehicles.

The complex is also equipped with sophisticated radiological detectors, speed camera, swipe card system, boom barriers and weigh bridges.

The occupational health centre established at the port hospital is aimed at prevention and management of occupational, environmental illness, injury and disability of workers. The facility will benefit more than 800 workers.

The port also signed a concession agreement with Hyderabad-based Transtroy-OJSC consortium for development of north cargo Berth-III, at an estimated cost of Rs420 crore, for handling thermal coal and rock phosphate. This facility upon completion will increase the capacity of the port by another 9.15 million tonnes per annum.

It is also proposed to dredge and deepen the area of the berth at an estimated cost of Rs448 crore, to cater 12.8 metres draught vessels, as part of the Rs1,747 crore inner harbour dredging project.

The VO Chidambaranar port has a current handling capacity of 33.34 million tonnes, which is envisaged to increase to 85 million tonnes upon completion of the inner harbour development project.

The shipping minister had recently released the detailed project report of the ambitious Outer Harbour Project, which envisages augmentation of the port capacity by another 328 million tonnes.

Upon completion of both the inner harbour development project currently underway and the proposed outer harbour project, the capacity of VO Chidambaranar Port will increase to 413 million tonnes.