V.O. Chidambaranar Port has launched the tender process for the development of a cargo terminal through a public private partnership contract

V.O.Chidambaranar Port invites application from interested parties to participate in the project: "Development of Shallow Draught Berth for handling general cargo through Public-Private Partnership on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis at V.O.Chidambaranar Port Trust."

The selected bidder will be responsible for designing, engineering, financing, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of the project under and in accordance with the provisions of a long term concession agreement.

The scope of work will broadly include construction of a 243 m long and 30 m width berth to accommodate 20,000 DWT vessels having Overall Length of 180 m, width of 22.8 0m and fully laden draught of 9.70m.

The indicative capital cost of the project is INR1233.5 million (US$18.33 million) and the deadline for submitting proposals is September 27th.

Because of its strategic location at the Southern tip of Indian Sub-continent and closer to the great East-West international Shipping route, the port has great potential to attract transshipment containers. The port has handled 32.41 million tonnes of cargo during the financial year 2014-2015 of which the share of coal is 13.80 million tonnes (42.6%) and containers 11.03 million tonnes (5,59,727 TEUS) (34%).

Since its declaration as a Major Port in 1974, the port capacity has grown significantly keeping in pace with the industrialization in and around Tuticorin and the increasing EXIM traffic.

For more information, please check the project website.