12/29/2004 THE HINDU - Besides the heavy loss of lives, the tidal wavesappear to have caused extensive damage to the port here.

The port, which once handled passenger and cargo streamliners, is nowmostly used for import of crude palm oil and export of cement. Earlier,the port was also a major exit point for onion and some rice export. Therehas been a lobby seeking a revival of the port as an intermediate port inview of the increasing congestion at the Chennai and Tuticorin ports. TheGovernment recently sanctioned Rs. 5 crores for development works at theport.

The tsunami has damaged some of the old structures in the port campus,including the office of the junior engineer, though the oil storage tanksand storage godowns are intact. However, two of the four barges from whichoil is pumped to the on-site storage tanks have been swept several metersinto the Kaduvaiyar river while another has been thrown over the wharf.Though there is no major structural damage, putting the barges back intooperation could involve some expenditure. Twisted electric poles andbundles of jute bags lay scattered around. The compound wall of the portcomplex had collapsed at several places.

Around 250 fishing vessels in Keechankuppam and Akkarapatti that wereanchored at the Kaduvaiyar have been swept under the force of the tidalwaves. Many of them lay scattered around the port complex and over theNagapattinam-Nagore railway line.