Vizhinjam port may need to set up a dynamic mooring system to prevent ships from getting caught in surge and sway when docked at the port. It is essential to moor the ships in a stable manner to speed up loading and unloading of containers as the port is seeing an increase in number of ships when EXIM containers are also handled. Shipping companies that operate motherships and feeder vessels through the port suggested that the port should install the facility.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which brought most container ships to Vizhinjam, suggested that the port should have a shore tension system. The equipment installed on the quay offers continuous tension on the cables used to moor ships. This prevents ships from swaying when there are surges and prevents the mooring lines from breaking. The system will enable the port to moor ships closer and port cranes to work efficiently as the ship will be stable.
The equipment can also be monitored from anywhere digitally and is monitored by staff in a control room at the port. Some machines come with a warning system when the surge level is dangerous. It is said that cargo ships face a mooring problem at most ports because they are huge and have a large lateral surface. Ports close to shipping lines, like Vizhinjam, which is 20 nautical miles away from the west-east shipping line, also suffer from surges due to frequent movement of ships.
Adani Ports said that they would be installing a dynamic mooring system at the port soon based on requests from shipping companies. The port has handled 150 ships and 3 lakh containers since July 2024. In Jan 2025, the port received 45 ships and handled 85,000 containers.
