THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vizhinjam is among ten ports in the State that will soon get tide gauges. The new equipment will also assess other parameters such as temperature, wind speed and wind direction which would benefit both the port as well as other stakeholders such as fishermen, Port officials said."The gauges are primarily for assessing details regarding the tides. But they will also gauge humidity, temperature, wind speed and wind direction,’’ said Ports additional director Capt Hari Achutha Warrier. The equipment, for which orders have been placed, locally ‘senses’ the parameters.Ten ports, including Vizhinjam, Thangassery, Alappuzha, Kodungallur, Beypore, Azheekal and Kasargod, will get the new equipment, Port officials said. Vizhinjam is also one of 17 ports identified by the state government for development to facilitate coastal shipping in future.Vessels bound for Maldives with vegetables and other cargo use the small port at Vizhinjam. However, lack of facilities here has been cited as one reason for much of the business moving to Tuticorin.But if things go as planned, the existing port at Vizhinjam will soon go on an expansion mode. Under the current proposal, both wharves at the port will be expanded. The old wharf will be extended on three sides; 10 metres in the front, 25 metres towards the left and 10 metres on the right side. The length of the new wharf will be extended by 13 metres from the current 87 metres to 100 metres, sources said.
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