Breaking barriers, making history: women at Vizhinjam port

Thiruvananthapuram: Vizhinjam deep-sea port in Kerala is not only the country's mega transshipment terminal but also holds the distinction of employing women, particularly from the local fishing community, to operate its huge automated CRMG cranes.

Nine women are challenging traditional norms by joining the ranks of their male colleagues in a historically male-dominated field, further eroding traditional gender barriers.

Since the fully automated Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry (CRMG) cranes are not present at any other port in India, the women at Vizhinjam are the first to operate such machinery in the country, according to a port official.

Notably, seven of the nine women crane operators come from the local fishing community, which had previously voiced strong opposition to the seaport's construction in 2022. While all of them are BSc graduates, for most, this is their first regular income job.

Prinu, a 30-year-old chemistry graduate, had initially planned to pursue a career in teaching after completing her BEd course. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she landed the role of CRMG crane operator.

Prinu, a young woman from a fishing family, saw an opportunity to improve her family's finances when the Vizhinjam port advertised crane operator jobs, prioritising local residents and women. She applied, was selected, and underwent training. Now, six months into her role, Prinu operates the crane independently, bringing a welcome financial boost to her family. The automated system makes handling containers from ships and transferring them to yard trucks a relatively effortless task.

Regarding the earlier protests by the fishing community, she clarified that they weren't opposed to the port itself but rather had certain demands that weren't being met. The community ultimately wanted the port and added that she intends to continue in this field and will not return to teaching.

Vizhinjam port is equipped with 24 advanced Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry (CRMG) cranes, designed to handle a wide range of container loads. These cranes enable fast, secure, and automated container handling, according to a port official. A team of 20 operators, including nine women, is responsible for managing these cranes.

While Prinu was a fresher, L. Karthika, 27, had prior experience handling cranes. . A native of Neyyattinkara, Karthika holds a diploma in instrumentation and engineering. She joined the Vizhinjam seaport in 2023 and underwent training in Gujarat for a month. Upon her return, she was instrumental in getting the cranes operational. Karthika chose this role for its proximity to her husband's home and the fact that it's fully automated. As an experienced operator, she has also mentored new recruits.

Karthika described her work as primarily monitoring the CRMG cranes, with occasional manual intervention using joysticks in case of malfunctions. The 20 crane operators, including herself, work in two 12-hour shifts, with regular breaks and transportation provided by the company. She highlighted the positive impact of the job on the women recruits, many of whom were previously homemakers.

According to port sources, the other women crane operators are S Anisha (29), L Sunitha Raj (35), D R Stefy Rebeira (30), R N Rajitha (36), P Asha Lakshmi (33), A V Sreedevi (37), and J D Nathana Mary.

The Vizhinjam port, developed by Adani Ports at a cost of Rs 8,867 crore, received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4. The port is expected to be fully operational by 2028 and awaits a formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(inputs from PTI)