Work on assembling the new cutter suction dredger bought by the Ports Department to remove silt from the Azhikkal port here is expected to be completed by November first week.
Port officials here said the Rs.20-crore dredger bought for increasing the depth of the port basin for the entry of bigger cargo vessels in the port was launched into water at the port on October 21. The assembling work has been under way at the port for the past two weeks, they said adding the actual dredging works will start after appointment of additional manpower.
Can raise depth to 10 m
Port Officer Ajinesh Madangara said that the cutter suction dredger can increase the depth of the basin and channel up to 10 m. Hydrographic surveys in the basin show that the average depth of the basin is 3.5 m, he said adding that 6 m depth is sufficient for the present requirement.
The coastal shipping service was launched at the port last year. It has raised hopes about developing it into an intermediate port in the State. The port mainly handles outgoing cargo including plywood, cement, granite ballast and laterite bricks, mostly to Lakshadweep and incoming cargo including copra. \The officials said that the larger vessels can enter the port only if the depth of the channel and the basin is increased. Moreover, periodical dredging of the channel and basin is essential because of the problem of siltation, they said.
