Cochin (Kochi, India)

Port Cochin (aka Kochi) is a major seaport located on India's southwestern coast (Arabian Sea and Laccadive Sea). Kochi (aka Ernakulam) has population around 680,000, ranking it Kerala state's largest city (followed by Trivandrum) and Kerala's largest urban agglomeration (after Calicuta) with metro population ~2.2 million.

Kochi City is a major spice trade hub from the 14th century onward, trading predominantly with Arab merchants. Kochi is an IT hub of great importance, as well as research and academic center. Among the tourist attractions are Portuguese churches, Jewish synagogue, mosques, Hindu temples, Mattancheri Palace, Fort Cochin ruins, Mangalavanam bird sanctuary, large beach.

The Indian city's namesake in Japan is Kochi City (Prefecture's capital on Shikoku Island).

Here are headquartered Indian Navy's Southern Command and Indian Coast Guard (with Air Squadron 747). The city's commercial port facilities include Port Cochin, Marina, Shipyard, International Container Transshipment Terminal, offshore moorings, Refinery. The city is also home for International Pepper Exchange, Stock Exchange, large industries (Cyber City, HMT, Kinfra Hi-Tech Park, TELK, FACT, TCC, IREL, Merchem, HOCL, Petronet LNG, Refineries) and large industrial parks (Cochin Special Economic Zone, Infopark, Smart City).

Port Cochin

Cochin is a major seaport on Arabian Sea and one of India's largest cargo ports. The port is located in a natural harbour, separated from the mainland by river estuaries and seawater inlets. This location allows scenic boat tours among small islands.

The port is on two islands (in Lake Kochi) named Willingdon and Vallarpadam. Via Kochi river the port opens onto Laccadive Sea (Indian Ocean. ICTT ("International Container Transshipment Terminal") is the country's largest container port with capacity to handle the world's biggest boxships (ULCVs).

The port is managed by Cochin Port Trust (government-owned company). The cargo port was opened in 1926. Other port facilities include Cochin Shipyard (India's largest shipbuilding and ship-repairs facility), SPM (single point mooring at Kochi Refineries), offshore crude oil carrier mooring and Kochi Marina. In 2019, Cochin Shipyard Ltd started the construction of a new drydock (LOA length 300 m / 984 ft) and a ship lift (at the ship-repair yard on Willingdon Island) with total investment of INR 2769 Crore (~USD 390 million).

Port's navigational channel starts with the entrance (between Vypeen and Fort Kochi). Approach channel has length approx 1 km and designed width 200 m. channel's maintained (through dredging) depth is 18 m (59 ft). After entering, the main channel divides into 2 channels. Ship docking is on wharves, berths, jetties and moorings along both channels. 24-hour pilotage service, water supply and bunkering are also provided to vessels. The port is well connected with hinterland via railways, roads and waterways to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

On Willingdon Island is located a Maritime Heritage Museum displaying unique marine equipments and port photos from the period 1920-1940.

Cochin is among the preferred ports of call on repositioning cruise itineraries between Southeast Asia and Europe (via Suez Canal / Middle East). In 2015-2016, the port handled 33 cruise vessels. In 2016-2017, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 46 ship calls.

Cochin is among India's 7 ports with e-Visa issuance, where cruise ship passengers can apply for visas online and it is issued by the time of arrival. In 2017, Cochin Port Trust started using bar-coded e-landing cards issued to cruise ship tourists on shore excursions. Under this system,  passengers apply online for landing permission and the e-Landing cards are issued on the ship.

Cochin Shipyard

Cochin Shipyard Ltd is India's largest shipbuilding, maintenance and shiprepair yard.

• The facility specializes in construction of offshore rigs and platform supply vessels, bulk carriers, double-hulled oil tankers (Aframax-class, DWT 95,000 tons), passenger ferries and aircraft carriers (Vikrant-class) for the Indian Navy. Shipbuilding orders are also received from international companies (mainly European and from Middle East).
• The shipyard is state-owned company since 1972 and fully operational since 1982. The company is traded on Bombay Stock Exchange since November 2015
• Yard's annual capacity is building vessels up to 1,1 million tons and shiprepairs up to 1,25 million tons.
• The yard also has training facility for marine engineers.
• Shiprepairs (all ship types) are offered since 1982 and include Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

Cochin cruise terminal