Adani Ports and SEZ announced on Friday the arrival of the first mothership at Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, India’s first deepwater trans-shipment port.
The inauguration event was led by the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, with VN Vasavan, the Minister for Ports, Kerala, presiding over the gathering. Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, attended as the chief guest.
Vizhinjam port is India’s first automated port, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities designed to accommodate large vessels. The port features modern container handling equipment and advanced automation and IT systems.
San Fernando, the 300-meter-long container vessel operated by Maersk with a capacity of 8,000-9,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), will be availing the services at the port to offload about 2,000 containers and for 400 container movements within the vessel.
Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ), highlighted the port’s significance, stating, “San Fernando’s arrival at our harbor symbolizes a remarkable achievement in Indian maritime history. It signals to the world that India’s first transshipment terminal and the largest deepwater port have commenced commercial operations.”
“This port features South Asia’s most advanced container handling technology. Once we complete the automation and the Vessel Traffic Management System, Vizhinjam will stand as one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated transshipment ports.”
Chief Minister Vijayan said that Vizhinjam has joined the ranks of the world’s major ports, capable of accommodating the largest ships. “This trial run marks the beginning, with full operations commencing soon.”
Currently, 25 per cent of India’s container traffic is transshipped en route to the destination.Until now, despite India’s rising trade with the world, the country did not have a dedicated transshipment port, resulting in three-fourths or 75 per cent of India’s transshipped cargo being handled by ports outside India.
Vizhinjam aims to redirect this traffic domestically, positioning itself as a strategic hub for major international routes connecting the US, Europe, Africa, and the Far East.
Vizhinjam International Seaport, a vital economic infrastructure project promoted by the Government of Kerala, represents the largest private sector investment in the state. Adani Ports and Logistics formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), to develop the project.
(inputs from ani)
