CPT commemorates arrival of first ship to modern port

Kochi: Commemorating the arrival of the first ship to the modern port of Cochin, the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) celebrated Cochin Port Day on Thursday.
It was on May 26, 1928, that the first ship — SS Padma — entered the inner harbour through the widened and deepened Cochin Gut.
The celebration, held at Samudrika Hall in Willingdon Island, was presided by Cochin Port Authority chairperson M Beena.The message of chief guest governor Arif Mohammad Khan was screened during the event. Customs commissioner P K Mohammed Yousaf and Naval Officer-In-Charge Rajesh Kumar Yadav were guests of honour at the function. The function was also attended by other officials Joseph J Alapat, S K Sahu, Paritosh Bala, V Thuraipandian, C Premakumari, Jimmy George, K I Muthukoya and Neeraj Kumar, representatives from the trade unions, employees and pensioners of the Port and their family members.
Awards were distributed to the Best Performing Port Users and Outstanding employees of the port at the function. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd won the award for business house that handled maximum cargo. Cultural programmes were presented by the employees and family members and students of Cochin Port Nursing School.
As part of the celebration, the ship MV Kavaratti was opened for public to visit from 10am to 4pm. CPT authorities said more than 1,000 persons visited the ship berthed at BTP Jetty.