Stuffing and Destuffing: Day1 Card1
Director: CAMP; Cinematographer: Pooja Sharma
Duration: 00:45:40; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 17.175; Saturation: 0.146; Lightness: 0.004; Volume: 0.250; Cuts per Minute: 1.598
Summary: Footage from Chakiat Container Freight Station, a private "stuffing and destuffing" loading and customs clearance facility near Vallarpadam International Container Terminal in Kochi.
(Its not so much that all that is solid melts into air, but rather that there are boxes within boxes… )
Ports and cities have been shy of each other throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Suddenly they make a joint appearance, new container terminal facing the waterfront, sharing their most visible parts. Meanwhile thousands of other pieces of the port - goods, workers, customs seals, excel sheets- are scattered across a “hinterland”, connected by bridge and wire, and surrounded by fences.'
What could be an image of this fractured landscape? The closest available rendering is the “transparent port” (or India’s first e-port, as the website of Cochin port trust proclaims). A port that, like its physical twin, makes things appear in proper columns, and counts rows of containers stuffed, bills paid, and ships expected or berthing.
Boxes resist images, but also offer an invitation to the curious.
Artist statement from the first Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2012
container
port
Shots of Vallarpadam ICT (international container terminal) from the jetty on Fort Kochi. Operated by Dubai Port World..
Vallarpadam
On a ferry from Fort Kochi to Vallarpadam. The Vallarpadam ICT operated by DP world (Dubai Port World) looms large. OEL Dubai has docked for unloading of conainters.
Customs inspection of a container at Chakiat CFS (Container Freight Station. The container is bound for the UAE and contains assorted vessels and appliances for South Asian kitchens (particularly South Indian) like coconut grater, fish curry chetty etc.
A previously stuffed container is de-stuffed for the random custom inspection.
S.B. NO: 2692710/22.11.2012
Commodity: KITCHEN WARES
No. of Pkgs: 368 PKGS
Nett Weight: 4552.94 KGS
Gross Weight: 4834.20 KGS
FOB Value: RS.565668.22/-
Port of Destination: JEBEL ALI
Country (Destination): U.A.E.
Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.0022-011S
Container No.: FSCU3537219
Size: 1X20 (?)
Steamer Seal No.: 435464
Customs / Seal No.: 324498
A loaded container is opened for customs inspection.
COIR PITH
No. of Pkgs: 26.50 MT
Nett Weight: 26,500 KGS
Gross Weight: 26,500 KGS
FOB Value: RS.2,84,260/-
Port of Destination: ROTTERDAM
Country (Destination): NETHERLANDS
Name of Export Vessel: RIO GRANDE EXPRESS V.2139
The container is emptied till the back wall is visible. Then the Coir cakes are manually stacked back columns.
The following day the newspapers had reports of Red Sanders being found deep inside a 40-foot container carrying Coir Pith.
De-stuffing of a container carrying coconuts.
COCONUTS
No. of Pkgs: 1,900 BAGS
Nett Weight: 26,000 KGS
Gross Weight: 27,000 KGS
FOB Value: RS.3,30,028/-
Port of Destination: JEBEL ALI
Country of Destination: U.A.E.
Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.002-011S
De-stuffing of container carrying bales of cotton yarn bound for Egypt
S.B. NO: 2684003/21.11.2012
Commodity: COTTON YARN
No. of Pkgs: 860 CTNS
Nett Weight: 39009.60 KGS
Gross Weight: 42140.00 KGS
FOB Value: RS.6631081/-
Port of Destination: EL DHEKEILA
Country (Destination): EGYPT
Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.0022-011S
Camera rolling with lens cap on.
Inspection of a container carrying an import of carbon black.
Name of Vessel: OEL DUBAI V.240
I.G.N. No.: 2048560/14-11-2012
Line No.:
B/E No. & Date: 8494229/16.11.2012
Description of Goods / No. of Pkgs.: CARBON BLACK SAF N134/22PLT
No. of Containers: 1 x 40'
Container No.: TCKU995322
De-stuffing continues of container carrying bales of cotton yarn bound for Egypt
S.B. NO: 2684003/21.11.2012 Commodity: COTTON YARN No. of Pkgs: 860 CTNS Nett Weight: 39009.60 KGS Gross Weight: 42140.00 KGS FOB Value: RS.6631081/- Port of Destination: EL DHEKEILA Country (Destination): EGYPT Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.0022-011S
Containers lined up on trucks at the edge of the loading bay.
Once the inspection is done, the container is de-stuffed and locked with a customs seal. Getting the container re-loaded is frustrating and takes a lot of manual work.
S.B. NO: 2684003/21.11.2012 Commodity: COTTON YARN No. of Pkgs: 860 CTNS Nett Weight: 39009.60 KGS Gross Weight: 42140.00 KGS FOB Value: RS.6631081/- Port of Destination: EL DHEKEILA Country (Destination): EGYPT Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.0022-011S
Agents finishing the last bit of paperwork before the container is ready to leave
De-stuffing of coconuts continues
COCONUTS No. of Pkgs: 1,900 BAGS Nett Weight: 26,000 KGS Gross Weight: 27,000 KGS FOB Value: RS.3,30,028/- Port of Destination: JEBEL ALI Country of Destination: U.A.E. Name of Export Vessel: ELB WOLF V.002-011S
Import of painting equipment from Saudi Arabia
Name of Vessel: SEA BRIGHT.V.0021-011S
I.G.N. No.: 2048285/09-11-2012
Line No.: 94
B/E No. & Date: 8490373/15-11-2012
Description of Goods / No. of Pkgs.: PAINTING MACHINE, HOSES AND ACCESSORIES
No. of Containers: 1 x 20Ft
Container No.: CRXU 2145911
...
Dated: 16-11-2012
(Its not so much that all that is solid melts into air, but rather that there are boxes within boxes… )
Ports and cities have been shy of each other throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Suddenly they make a joint appearance, new container terminal facing the waterfront, sharing their most visible parts. Meanwhile thousands of other pieces of the port - goods, workers, customs seals, excel sheets- are scattered across a “hinterland”, connected by bridge and wire, and surrounded by fences.'
What could be an image of this fractured landscape? The closest available rendering is the “transparent port” (or India’s first e-port, as the website of Cochin port trust proclaims). A port that, like its physical twin, makes things appear in proper columns, and counts rows of containers stuffed, bills paid, and ships expected or berthing.
Boxes resist images, but also offer an invitation to the curious. Our work here follows from such a curiosity.
Pad.ma requires JavaScript.
