Hydrographic survey at Beypore port for dredging to start

At last, the hydrographic survey has started at Beyport port to start dredging soon. The survey which covers the ship channel, the approach channel and the turning area and the wharf, assesses the extent of dredging required to make the operations of the bigger vessels out of the port. The bigger the vessels a port can operate, the greater is the opportunity for development and growth of the port. The Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation is hopeful that the dredging work will commence in the first week of October; it has an award of INR 8.2 crore contracts for capital dredging of the port. It is said the port has not had the benefit of dredging for decades. Mr. Abraham V Kuriakose, the port officer said: “The dredging work will herald a new chapter in the development of the port as an all-weather intermediate port in the state. Once the dredging works are completed, we can welcome bigger cargo vessels and even small container vessels and feeder vessels”. After dredging, the draft of the port will increase from 3.5 meters to 5 meters. Mr. Kuriakose said that the ports department has submitted a master plan to the government and the master plan proposes to have additional wharfs and to augment the port infrastructure and facilities to be able to handle general cargo, container ships and passenger vessels.

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