Cochin Port

History

Evolution of Cochin Port

It is believed that the Cochin Port was formed in AD 1341 as a result of the heavy floods in the river Periyar. The then harbour Muziris got silted up during the floods and a new opening formed at Cochin. Thereafter, Cochin was developed as a trading hub and visited by several international travellers. Colonial conquerors having trading interest administered the Kochi area for centuries.
The transformation of Cochin from a mere roadstead into a modern harbour is credited to Sir Robert Bristow, the harbour engineer who implemented the decision of the then rulers by creating a proper shipping channel by cutting the sand bar at the mouth of the harbour, during his two decades stint at Cochin (1920-1941).
The first ship entered the Cochin harbour on 26th May 1928. Thereafter, road-rail networks were introduced to Cochin, connecting important inland trading points, making the harbour the important trading hub on the Kerala coast.

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Closure of the ancient port of Muziris and widening of Cochin Gut.
Visit of Ma Huan, Chinese Ambassador and Nicolo Conti,Italian traveller.
Arrival of Portuguese Admiral Cabral
Foundation stone laid for the first Portuguese Fortress in India.
Capture of Cochin by the Dutch.
The Dutch surrendered to the British.
First chart of Cochin harbour made.
Arrival of Captain Castor, first Port Officer
Aspinwall's memorandum suggesting developing a sheltered harbour in Cochin.
Chamber of Commerce to Duke of Buckingham.
Memorandum by Cochin Chamber of Commerce to Lord Curzon, Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
Chamber of Commerce offer to finance experimental dredging.
Alan Campbell's proposal to extend the railway line to Candle Island via Bolghatty, to reclaim land and build deep water piers there.
Report of Sir John Wolfe Barry & Partners.
Arrival of Sir Robert Bristow
Approval for experimental dredging
Experimental cut on outer bar started.
Approval of Third Stage
Commissioning of dredger "Lord Willingdon'.
Sand bar at the mouth of the harbour cut open.
Widening of channel completed.
Port thrown open for vessels up to 30ft draft.
Administration of Cochin Harbour taken over by the Government of India under the Major Port Trusts Act.
Braunfels, the first ocean-going ship to berth alongside Mattancherry Wharf.
SS Bharat Kumar, the first vessel to berth in the expanded Mattancherry Wharf.
SS Jayabrahma, the first vessel berthed alongside South Coal Berth.
Commissioning of the North Tanker Jetty.
First tanker SS British Fortune berthed alongside South Tanker Jetty.
Commissioning of North Coal Berth.
Commissioning of Ernakulam Wharf.
Experimental loading of palletised cargo started.
Open berth Q9 commissioned.
President Tyler, first container vessel to enter any Indian Port, berthed in Ernakulam Wharf.
Cochin Fisheries Harbour (first stage) commissioned.
Container Freight Station inaugurated.
Commencement of work on Integrated Development Project.
Dedicated fertilizer berth commissioned.
Preliminary report on Vallarpadam Mother Terminal was handed over to Government of India.
Container Freight Station commissioned.
Dock Labour Board merged with Cochin Port Trust.
Dedicated container handling facility 'Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal' commissioned.
The New Administrative Office opened.
Boat Train Pier (BTP) reconstructed as 330m long Multi Purpose Berth
Offshore Crude Oil handling facility (SBM) commissioned.
Commencement of first phase of International Container Transshipment Terminal, Vallarpadam with 1 million TEU capacity. A four lane NH and a new link rail to the national rail grid from the Terminal created.
LNG Regasification Terminal commissioned. First LNG vessel MV Wilenergy berthed.
Samudrika – cruise passenger facilitation centre commissioned.
an arrangement or occurrence (as of past events) in time