Cochin Port

Overview

Location:

Cochin, an all weather natural Harbour is located strategically close to the busiest international sea routes:

Gulf to Singapore and Far East (Distance from Cochin Port-11 Nautical Miles)
Suez to Singapore/ Far East (Distance from Cochin Port-74 Nautical Miles)

Amongst all major Indian ports, Cochin is the closest to the International East West Shipping routes. This geo-strategic location of Cochin gives it a distinct advantage.

Moderate Climate:

The Port is situated on the Willingdon Island which is an artificial Island tucked inside the Backwaters. The backwaters offer calm and placid channels for ships throughout the year, even during the Monsoon season.

Cochin lies beyond the cyclone zone and therefore the risk of cyclones is negligible

Operational Efficiency:

24 Hour Pilotage
24 hour Cargo Operations
Real-Time co-ordination of vessel movement through VTMS
Single Window Transaction
Moving towards Zero Pre-Berthing Detention Time.

Service Quality:

The operational areas of the port is certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
The port maintains high security arrangements and its security profile is ISPS compliant.
The port is maintaining a Tier I Oil spill disaster contingency plan. During the past three years, no oil spill has occurred in and around the port.

Connectivity:

Cochin port is connected to its hinterland enlarging to the state of Kerala ,South Tamilnadu and South Karnataka by National Highways NH 47(Kanyakumari-Salem), NH49 (Cochin-Madurai) and NH17 (Cochin-Mumbai). Indian Railway Network provides seamless connectivity to South and Central India.The National Waterway NW3 provides connectivity to the South Kerala. The port has an international airport in its proximity. The network of railways roads, waterways and airways has created good accessibility to the port.

Inland Container Depots (ICD) at Coimbatore and Bangalore connected by Regular Train Service.

Development Path:

Cochin Port is implementing ERP for enhancing efficiency.
The port is enhancing capacity by modernizing and enlarging the Mattancherry Wharf
The port is upgrading its power infrastructure.
The port is equipping its new multi-purpose berths with modern Bulk/Break Bulk handling Cranes.
The port is developing India?s first Port Based Special Economic Zone.

Proximity to the Maritime Highway:

CLIMATE AND METEOROLOGY

Temperature and Humidity

Temperature at Cochin varies from about 22 to 31 degrees C. There are not much distinct seasonal variations in the temperature, which is more or less uniform throughout the year. However, highest temperatures tend to occur in the months of March to May. The humidity is high all through the year. It ranges from approximately 75% in the morning during winter months to approximately 90 % in the monsoon period.

Winds and Cyclones

The wind speed and wind direction is determined by the season and by the daily temperature differences between land and sea. The predominant wind direction during the monsoon period ie, from June to September, is west to south-west and the effect of land breeze is not dominant during this period. During the non-monsoon periods, the predominant wind direction is from north-east during the morning and west during the evening, which shows influence of land breeze. The maximum wind speed observed was of the order of 112 KMPH from WSW direction. Cochin lies beyond the cyclone belt and therefore the risk of cyclone is negligible.

Rainfall

The maximum rainfall usually occurs during the monsoon period ie, from June to September. The annual rainfall in the region varies between 2500 to 3500 mm.

OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA

Tides

Cochin experiences semidiurnal tides. The tidal levels as per Naval Hydrographic Chart No. 2004 are as follows:

MHHWL	+1.20 m
MLHWL	+ 0.80 m
MSL	+ 0.60 m
MHLWL	+ 0.60 m
MLLWL	+ 0.30 m

The above levels are with respect to Port's Chart Datum, which is approximately the level of Lowest Astronomical tide.

Current

The currents along the coast of Cochin consist of tide, wave and wind induced components. As per observations the maximum current velocities at the Cochin Gut during the non-monsoon periods is of the order of 3 knots, which could increase to as high as 5.5 knots during the monsoon periods. Inside the harbour the current velocities are low, of the order of 0.5 knots only, with directions varying at different locations.

Waves

The wave climate is governed by the South West monsoon when wave action can be strong with prevailing wave direction from north-west to south-west. Deep water (15m) wave observations in the past indicate the significant wave heights of 4m, 2m and 1m at the water depths of 10m, 5m and 2m respectively, the predominant wave direction being west. Wave action inside the harbour is insignificant because of the narrow entrance between Cochin Gut and Fort Cochin and the configuration of the land. Generally calm conditions prevail throughout the year except during the times of extreme wind action.

Bathymetry

The sea bed slopes gently in the offshore region and is about 1 in 500-600. The coast experiences the littoral drift as anywhere else but there is a phenomenon of formation of the mud banks. The mud banks are not stationary and have a tendency to move in the coastal region.

TIDAL STREAMS

The maximum rate of the ebb stream at springs throughout the year is from 2 to 3 knots and at Neaps from 1/2 to 11/2 knots.

Ebb Stream Springs	2 - 3 knots
Ebb Stream Neaps	1/2 to 11/2knots
Flood Stream Springs	11/2 - 2 knots
Flood Stream Neaps	1/2 to 11/2 knots

Both streams run for considerable time after the predicted times of High and low water, for about 2 hours on the flood and 2 - 3 hours on the ebb. After heavy inland rains the ebb stream may run continuously for many days, while the flood stream enters the harbour under the surface ebb.

SALINITY

Within the harbour the salinity varies from 1005 to 1020 depending on the season and state of tide.