In order to increase berthing capacity, Indian Navy has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Cochin Port Trust. As per the agreement, 228 metres of berths, Q2 and Q3 at Mattancherry Wharf have been given to Indian Navy on lease for a period of five years by CPT.
The MoU was signed by by Goutam Gupta on behalf of Cochin Port Trust and Deepak Kumar, Chief Staff Officer (Ops), Southern Naval Command for Indian Navy. The lease deal has been finalized at an amount of Rs. 10 crore a year.
Earlier Indian Navy had made a request for providing berthing facility for their ships at Cochin Port till the reconstruction work going on the Navy’s own berths. Cochin Port Trust reviewed the request of the Navy. Thus they provided Cochin Port’s oldest wharf, Mattacherry Wharf in view of the national interest involved.
This new lease deal between Indian Navy and CPT will not only enhance the cooperation between the two but will also enable naval ships presence in Kochi, both at naval as well as commercial jetties. This is first of its kind agreement signed between Indian Navy and CPT.
