First project vessel Zhen Hua 15 that docked Vizhinjam International Seaport will leave for China on Thursday

On Thursday, the first project vessel, Zhen Hua 15, which had moored at the still-under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport, would depart for China in order to deliver the port's next shipment. One rail-mounted quay crane and two rail-mounted gantry cranes that were transported to the port on Wednesday were unloaded and the basic installation work was finished by the specialists on board the ship. On its voyage from China to India, another ship is carrying six cranes for handling containers. The next project ship, like the previous one, is expected to make its first destination Mundra port in Gujarat, and then unload the cranes there before making its way back to China, according to authorities.

Officials claim that, similar to the previous project vessel, the next ship is anticipated to make its original destination Mundra Port in Gujarat, and offload the cranes there before continuing on to China. The initial project vessel's unloading operations had considerable delays due to the weather systems over the Arabian Sea causing heavy seas and a delay in granting permission for the Chinese technicians to come ashore at Vizhinjam.

Resuming breakwater work at the port site has also been delayed by consecutive weather systems, including cyclone "Tej," which developed over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during the early part of the northeast monsoon season. The authorities used to often halt civil activities at the port site during the height of the southwest monsoon since the monsoon months would bring heavy seas. The work would not continue until September or early October following the monsoon break.

The officials are hoping to start building breakwaters by the first of next month, given that cyclone Tej has caused surges and waves. Of the 2960 m of breakwater needed for the port project, the authorities have only been able to complete 68% of the work so far. Although 2250 metres of the 2959 m of breakwater construction have been built by land mode, only 2050 metres of breakwater armour stone placement have been finished.