The Kochi International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal, is the first transshipment terminal in India and the first container terminal to operate in a SEZ.[2][3]
Being constructed in three stages, the first phase of the terminal was commissioned on 11 February 2011.[4] This can handle cargo up to one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum.[4] On completion of the third phase, the terminal will be able to handle 5.5 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo per annum.[4] The terminal is operated by the Dubai Ports World (DPW), which will operate it for 30 years after which the control will come back to the Cochin Port Trust.[5]
History
Container Transshipment Terminal, Kochi first came to the mind of Dr. Babu Paul IAS, He proposed this project to K Karunakaran but the central government was not interested in this project. On 16 February 2005, Dubai Ports World announced that it has signed an agreement with the Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) to construct, develop and operate an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) – An India Gateway Terminal – at Vallarpadam.
The project was, formally, launched with the laying of the foundation stone by Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India.[when?] Approval for the agreement was given by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs of the Government of India, Ministry of Finance and meanwhile, the DP World will manage and subsequently transfer its operations at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal in Cochin Port to the new terminal upon its completion. The DP World has been granted a 38-year concession for the exclusive operation and management of the site.
Overview
Vallarpadam Terminal is the first in the country to operate in a special economic zone.
The first phase was opened in 2011 with a 600 m Quay length and a draft of 14.5 m, with a capacity to handle 1 million TEUs. In October 2023, the terminal capacity was increased to 1.4 million TEUs after the arrival of six new cranes, including two STS megamax cranes.[6][7]
In the second phase the capacity will be enhanced to 3 million TEUs.
In the third phase the terminal may handle even up to 5.5 million TEUs.
The total cost of the project is estimated at ₹ 3200 crore.
DP World has estimated that the total initial investment required will be approximately US$20 million which includes the immediate provision of four RTGs and two Mobile Harbour Cranes to the Terminal -to improve yard handling, truck turnaround time and quayside operations.
Strategically, located on the main east–west global shipping lines and offering draft of about 16 m, Cochin is destined to develop as the premier gateway to southern India,[8] as also offering an alternative to Sri Lanka and Singapore for containers being transshipped for the Indian market.
