A STUDY ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ATCOCHIN PORT TRUST, COCHIN

A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by
RAHEENA.N
In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the award of the POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT (PGDM)
DC SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGYMEDIA SCHOOLTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695 585
JUNE 2009

ABSTRACT
Employee engagement is the level of commitment and involvement anemployee has towards their organization and its values. An
engaged employeeis aware of business context, and works with colleagues to improveperformance within the job for the benefit
of the organization. It is a positiveattitude held by the employees towards the organization and its values. Thisdescriptive study
on the basic of Gallup 12 point questionnaire and the IESsurvey, 2003.Q12 survey will help to identifies strong feeling of
employeeengagement and compare the eight important element of employee engagementlike training, performance appraisal
communication, equal opportunity and fairtreatment, pay and benefits, health and safety, co-operation and job satisfaction,which
developed on the basic of IES survey 2003. This study was conduct inthe Cochin Port Trust, Kerala (2009).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The study would not be complete without acknowledging my sinceregratitude to all persons who have helped me in the conduct
of the study and thepreparation of the dissertation.I express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Mahesh Mohan, faculty of DCSMAT,
Trivandrum for his advice and guidance during my work.I express my deep sense of gratitude to faculty guide Mr. Anand
Scotlin,who has been offering me valuable expertise and guidance throughout theprogress of this dissertation work.I express my
sincere gratitude to Mr. C. UnniKrishnan Nair
,
DeputySecretary, Cochin Port Trust for giving me an opportunity to do this dissertationwork and also for giving valuable
guidance in carrying out this dissertationwork successfully.I express my profound thanks to Mrs. Deeratmaja
,
Welfare InspectorCochin port trust for her constructive criticism and valuable guidancethroughout this dissertation work.I thank
all the employees of Cochin port trust for their valuable helpwhich was essential for successful completion of this dissertation.I
express my gratitude to my parents and friends without whose co-
operation and consistent encouragement, the accomplishment of thisdissertation would not have been possible.Finally, I thank the
God Almighty Whose abundant grace and blessingthat led me through this entire journey.Rahneena.N

1.1 INDUSTRY PROFILE1.1.1 GLOBAL SENARIO

A port provides facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo and fromthem. They are usually situated at h the edge of an ocean or sea, river
or lake.Ports often have cargo or handling equipments such as cranes and fort lifts foruse in loading or unloading ships, which may be provided
by private interests orpublic bodies. Harbour pilots burgs, and tug boats are often used to safetymaneuver large ships in tight quarters as they
approach and leave the docks. Theports that handle international traffic will have customer’s facilities.The term “port” and seaport are used for
ports that handle ocean going vessels,and “river port” is used for facilities that handle river traffic. Some ports on alake, river or canal have access
to a sea or ocean; they are sometimes have“inland ports”. A fishing port is a type of port or harbour facility particularlysuitable for landing
distributing fish .A “dry port” a term some time used todescribe a yard used to place containers or conventional public cargo, usuallyconnected to
a sea port by rail or road.The presence of deep water in channels or berths, the provision of protectionfrom the wind, waves and storm surges and
access to intermeddle transportationsuch as trains or trucks are critical to the functioning bat seaports and riverports.Cargo containers allow for
efficient transport and distribution by eliminating theneed for smaller packages to be loaded individually at each transportation point,and allowing
the shipping unit to be sealed for its entire journey. Standardcontainers can just as easily be loaded on a ship, train, truck or plane, greatly
simplifying intermeddle transfers. Cargo often arrives by train and truck to beconsolidated at a port and loaded on to a large containership for
internationaltransport. At the destination port, it is distributed by ground transport onceagain. Port and shipping containers are a vital part of
modern just in timeinventory management strategies.Port sometimes fall out of use Ryes, East Sussex, England was an importantport in the
Middle Ages, but the coastline changed and it is now two miles fromthe sea.Also in London, on the River Thames, and Manchester, on the
Manchesterships canal, were once important international ports, but are no longer so.The world’s busiest port is contested by several ports around
the world, asthere is as yet no standardized means of evaluating port performance and traffic.The most keenly fought over this for the past decade
was between the port of Rotterdam and the port of Singapore, with both ports claiming the busiest porttile.
1.1.2. INDIAN SCENARIO
Indian ports are not behind in effecting a metamorphosis in their attitudeand approach. India is today among the top17 maritime nations in the
world.India has a long coastline spanning 7517kilometres forming one of the biggestPeninsulas in the world. The ministry of shipping has laid
great emphasis on theproductivity aspect and benchmarking of quality ports and most importantly inmaking the ports cost effective.
Almost all the major ports acquired ISO-9000 certification. The majorports are now in the process of revising their standards in compliance with
theISO09002-2000 standards.Indian ports are the major players in the shipping industry. They play aprominent role in the import and export of
materials via the sea route from andto various destinations around the globe. The classification of Indian ports intomajor, minor and intermediate
has an administrative significance. India isserviced by 12 major ports and 185 notified minor and intermediate port. Atpresent this ports are
handle about 75%of maritime cargo of the country. Theports come under the Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India. The following arethe Major
ports in India:

Mumbai Port Trust, Mumbai

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Mumbai

Kolkata Nehru Port Trust, Kolkata

Cochin Port Trust, Cochin

Chennai Port Trust, Chennai

Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam

New Mangalore Port Trust, Mangalore

Tuticorin port Trust, Tuticorin

Mormugao Port Trust, Mormugao

Kandla Port Trust, Kandla.

Paradip Port Trust, Paradip

Ennore Pvt.Ltd, Ennore

Major port in India

1.2 COMPANY PROFILE1.2.1. History:
Cochin is the center for maritime trade and fishing for centuries createdby nature in AD 1341, visited by international travelers and administered
bycolonial conquerors through the centuries which follow and developed by
Sir.Robert Bristow
during the period 1920-1940. In this century against far toomany odds and despite the cynicism of far too many people Cochin Port todayis
indeed the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”.The Cochin Port Trust newly launched
E-Thuramukham
, acomprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation programbecoming the first Indian port. The project is based on SAP
platform and will becustomized by Tata Consultancy Services.
1.2.2. Formation:
The port was formally thrown open to vessels up to 30’draft in the year 1931.Cochin port was declared as a major port 1
st
August, 1936 and came under theadministration of Govt. of India and the port was vested in a Board of trusteesunder a central legislation, viz. the
Major Port Trust Act, 1963 on 29thFebruary, 1964.
1.2.3. Location
Port of cochin is located on the Willingdon Island at Latitude 9(degree) 58’North and Longitude 76(degree) 14’ east on the South –West coast of
Indiaabout 930 KM south of Mumbai and 320 KM North of Kanyakumari.

Port layout
The navigational channel system (approach channels)of cochin portcomprise of an outer approach channel and two inner channels leading
toErnakulum side and Mattancherry side of the Willingdon Island on which theland based port facilities are located as shown in figure above.

1.2.5. Hinterland
With its strategic location on the South – West coast of India and at acommanding position at the cross roads of the East – West Ocean trade,
theport is a natural gateway to the vast industrial and agricultural produce marketsof the South – West India. The hinterland of the port includes
the whole of theKerala state and parts of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states. A study carriedout on the traffic flow in the hinterland of the port
indicates that about 97% of the total volume of the traffic is accounted for by Kerala state. The hinterland of Cochin port has further spread over
to different areas with the growth of containerization in the country and establishment of inland Container Depotsdifferent load canters in India.
Cochin with its proximity to the international sea route between Europe and the Far East and Australia can attract large number of container lines
offering immense sailing opportunities.
1.2.6.Mission
The Mission of the Cochin Port Trust is to provide dependable, cost-effectivePort services through modern
and efficient infrastructure coupled with highquality, customer friendly services. The Port shall manage its assets andresources for optimal
economic use to the Nation and the community. ThePort shall strive to be the main catalyst for the economic development of
theregion, with a strong commitment to environmentally sound policies andsafe practices. The Board of Trustees, the employees and all
stakeholders of thePort shall work as a team in an open, positive, collaborative and cooperativemanner. In pursuit of this Mission, the Port Trust
shall be guided by theprinciples of integrity, ethical behavior, professional excellence, service to thecommunity and respect for every individual.
1.2.7. Vision
The vision of the Cochin Port is to serve the country as

A public service provider

An economic development facilitator

A Business enterprise

An environmental conservator
1.2.8. Goals

Strengthening our competitive position

Maximizing space and infrastructure utilization

1.2.9. Objectives
o

To provide adequate service to trade and commerce so as to supportthe promotion of international trade, particularly of export trade, andto
catalyze the techno-economic development of its hinterland byproviding an important infrastructural facility.
o

To equip itself with modern techniques and mechanical innovations aswell as technical expertise, so as to provide comprehensive,qualitatively
efficient service to the trade.
o

To ensure efficient handling of cargo at minimum unit cost and tofacilitate quick turn round of ship.
o

To streamline procedure formalities and to co-ordinate the operationsof other official agencies connected with export and import trade, withthe
objective of aiding quick flow of work.
o

To optimize utilization of human and material resources with dueregard to safety, quality of output and efficiency.
o

To facilitate effective and meaningful participation of all the interestsconcerned in the port’s work.
o

To afford to its workers and staff facilities which take care of theirmedical, educational, recreational and other welfare needs.
o

To optimize the return on investments and to maintain economy inexpenditure in all spheres of the port’s work.
1.2.10. Administration
The Port is governed by The Cochin Port Trust which is an autonomous bodyunder The Major Port Trusts Act 1963. The Central Government
constitutes aBoard of Trustees, responsible for management of the port. The Government of India may from time to time nominate the Trustees in
the Board representingvarious interests. The Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, makes provision for theconstitution of the Cochin Port Trust to vest the
administration, control andmanagement of the port.
1.2.11. Ownership pattern
Cochin port is an autonomous body under the Government of India and it’smanaged by the board of Trustees constructed by Govt. of India. The
chairmanof the Board is act as Chief executive officers.

The Board of Trusties consists of:1.

.Chairman2.

Dy. Chairman appointed by the govt of India and memberrepresenting3.

Ministry of shipping4.

Govt of Kerala5.

Department of customs6.

Coast guard7.

Defence service8.

Indian railway9.

BPCL cochin refinery10.

Cochin SEZ, Govt. of India11.

Mercantile Marine department12.

Kerala chamber of commerce & industry13.

Cochin Steamer Agent Association

1.

Administration department

Co-ordinate the various activities of other departments of Cochinport trust such as appointment, training and promotion andpersonnel matters.

Convening of the board of trustees and sub-committee

Preparation of agenda for the meeting and follow up actions

Decision taken up

Public relation work

Implementation of official language ACT

Preventive vigilance
2.

Central account department

To give financial advice on varies matters of the administration of the port.

Custody and accounting of receipts’ and expenditure from the portfund.

Compilation of budget estimates of financial statements.

Pre audit and checking of bills as an instrument of control

Financial and budgetary control.

Payment of salary pension and other dues to the employees.

Accounting of expenditure on works.

Issue of bills towards cost of service rendered by the port andrecovery of amounts due.

Costing of service and operations to facilitate to cost control

Fixing and revision of tariffs.

3.

Civil engineering department

Maintenance and development of the general conservancy of the port from the civil engineering point of view.

Implementation of new scheme in consultation with the otherdepartment for providing port facilities to cope with the needsof trade.

Civil construction work and maintenance of the port structures

Sanitation of port area and water supply.

Preparation of estimates of new work and award of contact forthe new contraction work.

Land leasing.
4.

Mechanical Engineering department

It is responsible for procurement, maintenance and operation of all cargo handling equipments and procurement andmaintenance of flotilla
required by the port.

Procurement and distribution of electricity

5.

Traffic department

Allotment of berth

Deployment of equipment such as shore cranes, mobile cranesetc

Deployment of labour gangs for loading and unloadingoperations.

Transit management and supervision of the cargo handling.

Cargo accounting and receipt and delivery

Allotment of the ware house and open stacking yards andmonitoring their utilizations.

Container freight station operation such as stuffing, destuffing,movement of boxes and receipt and their deliveries.

Container terminal documentation, receipt and delivery of containers.

6.

Marine department

It is mainly conserved with the marine conservancy of theport. The piloting of the vessels in and out of the port,Hydro graphic survey, dredging
operations, fire services,licensing of harbour crafts, single station including theoperations and maintenance of the tanker terminals and
of electronic equipment like VHF, etc. are the responsibilitiesof the marine department.

Pollution control

All harbour flotilla like tugs, launches, dredgers, etc areoperating by the department.
7.

Medical department

This department provide medical facilities for the officers andstaff of the port trust as well as their families