Abhimana Nimisham - Largest container vessel calls at Vallarpadam port

KOCHI: Pointing to the fact that the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) is full-fledged, Maersk Sembawang, the largest container vessel to visit India, called at the terminal on Thursday.
The ship Maersk Sembawang was received at the terminal by a big crowd which included, vice president and managing director of Dubai Port World, which operates the terminal, Anil Singh, DPW chief executive officer K K Krishnadas and Cochin Port Trust chairman Paul Antony. Captain of the ship Vinod Kumar, hails from Kochi.
The 319 m long Singaporeanflagged vessel has a capacity of 6,478 twenty feet equivalent units(TEUs).
The vessel coming from Europe through Suez Canal reached Kochi after a 10day journey. It is scheduled to go to China on Friday.
ICTT is equipped with the most modern facilities comprising four super postpanamax twin lift quay cranes, 15 rubber tired cranes, 600 m gantry cranes, 600 m of quay length and dedicated rail connectivity with hinterland destinations. Easy access through rail, road and sea helps the ICTT to connect all the key South Indian markets of Bangalore, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Salem.
Barging operation using the inland waterways is another feature of the terminal.With a fourlane highway dedicated to the terminal, direct rail connectivity and easy coastal connectivity are its other merits. The largest container ship to visit the South Indian ports was 208 m long, Maersk Kalamata. The largest ship which has visited the ICTT, Vallarpadam so far is a 247 m long mothership.