Cochin Port have received a request from M/s. Deepak Phenolics Limited for transportation of Propylene (flammable gas of 2.1 hazardous class) through Ro-Ro shipping from Cochin to Dahej (Gujarat) as it will be cost effective & environment friendly. Currently, the cargo is being transported by road. Since Dahej Port does not have the required draft of 5m for the Ro-Ro ships, M/s. DPL had suggested exploring the possibility of using Hazira Port instead of Dahej Port. Meanwhile, a feedback from M/s.DPL has been received wherein they have indicated that they would be interested to patronize the service provided the cost per tonne of transportation remains below the current road transportation cost and hence CoPT have now taken up with the Ro-Ro operator, M/s. DG Connect, who are currently operating service between Hazira and Ghogha to revert with the possible freight tariff.

The main objective of this initiative is to bring about a modal shift that is cost effective, safe, less pollutant reducing carbon footprints& environment friendly movement leveraging Coastal Shipping.

As Cochin Port has only linear berths where Ro-Ro vessel with quarter stern ramp or side ramp can only be berthed, CoPT has drawn up a proposal to provide additional Ro-Ro handling facility at the southern side of the existing Q1 berth of Mattancherry Wharf utilising Q1 berth that can facilitate the berthing of Ro-Ro vessels with straight stern and front ramps.

The proposed additional Ro-Ro handling facility in between Q1 berth and South Coal Berth (SCB) consists of (i) Construction of Jetty structure of approximately 120sq. m., (ii) Strengthening of existing road surface upto IG Road, (iii) Construction / Re-construction of existing compound wall and drain and (iv) Re-construction of damaged Mooring .Dolphin for SCB

The total estimated cost of the Project works out to around Rs.11.06 Crores.  Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) vide letter No.P2-25021/18/2021-SM dated 22-04-2022 has communicated approval for the project with 100% financial assistance under Sagarmala Programme at a total project cost of Rs.11.06 crores in relaxation of Sagarmala funding guidelines which has a provision of 50% funding.

Tenders for  the work with estimated cost of Rs.1095  lakhs invited on 06-05-2022. The Letter of Acceptance  issued to  the L1 bidder M/s.KVJ Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. for Rs.10,56,31,911.42  vide letter dated 16-08-2022,

The Project will be implemented within a period of 12 months from the date of its approval by the competent authority. If a dedicated berth is available at Cochin Port for handling Ro-Ro ships, there is chance of attracting more users for handling various types of cargo through Ro-Ro ships to various destinations. On completion, the facilities would be operated and maintained by CoPA, for multiple users.

Total projected capacity of the berth is 0.60 MMTPA