Cochin Port hopes to Resolve with Cochin Refineries Ltd.

Trivandrum, India, Jul. 2 2002 (INS News) -- As a survival strategy the Cochin Port Trust authorities expressed hope of finding an amicable solution to the using of single buoy mooring facility by cochin Refineries limited could be arrived at through discussion between the two companies.

Cochin Port, India

Addressing the press conference Dr.Jacob Thomas, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, said the management of Cochin Refineries ltd had expressed its willingnes to discuss the issue before it goes ahead with the project.

The parent company of Cochi Refineries Ltd, Bharat Petroleum corporation Ltdhad assured that an investment decision would be taken only after hearing the views of Port.

A team of officials from Shipping Corporation of India and Bharat Petroleum company ltd had visited the port and examined the the feasibility of undertaking lighterageoperations at the anchorage point near Cochin Gut.

The port management had impressed upon them its commitment to provide 14 metres depth in channel and oil terminal so that Suezmax tankers could call at the port and freight savings, as envisaged by them could be substatial, Dr. Thoms said.

The Cochin Refinnery Ltd had responded positively the alternate suggestion put forward by the Port. The issue behind this is one of mutual
survival and there are possibilities and alternatives, systems etc which we can discuss and find solutions.

In his earlier address Dr. Thomas said the Singlr buoy mooring facility being planed out side Cochin port limits would lead to closure of Cochin Port Trust with in the next five years.

The decline of the port would in turn affect the the state of Kerala by the trade through port estimated at Rs.1600 crores accounts to a 25% to the state of Kerala Domestic Product.

It will affect not only the proposed project of VallarpadamContainer Terminal and Bunking Terminal but als the institutions like the Ship Yard, The Fertilisers And Chemical Travancore Ltd and Navy.

Dr. Thomas said that the developing nations are discouraging SBMS out side the port limit in veiw of the high maintenance costs involved in
controlling oil spillage,envitonmentand marine pollution etc..The Sbms were within the limits as it required a lot of development facilities related to SBM, he added.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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