Thiruvananthapuram: Vizhinjam port, which recently received permission to carry out crew change operations for small and large ships, is set to add more facilities to host the crew.Kerala Maritime Board (KMB), which manages the non-major port operations at Vizhinjam, is now awaiting the immigration department’s standard operating procedure. Meanwhile, it has decided to expand the space and other facilities so that crew can be handled round the clock.A KMB official said that a lounge with some more space for the crew to wait and complete their procedures and a facilitation centre would be set up. “An estimate is being prepared as per the measures we decided at a meeting last week.”He said crew change would be a full-time operation and existing facilities might not be adequate. “We have basic amenities in place as the operations were being carried out during the pandemic for two years,” he said.Sources said that the port is also being spruced up. A crane and tug need some repairs and a customs-notified godown is also needed.Vizhinjam Steamer Agents Association secretary Jude Sajith D’Cruz said some final clearances and an SOP from immigration were needed to begin crew change operations.More than 12,500 crew members were replaced for close to 1,000 ships in two years during the Covid pandemic at Vizhinjam port. Its deep draft and proximity to international shipping routes made it easier for ships to replace their crew when their duty time was completed. The operations had generated good revenue at that time.As it is being formalised, KMB is expected to receive a stable revenue. This will in turn benefit the state govt and the city in terms of improvements in hospitality.
