Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 May officially commissioned the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India’s first full-fledged deepwater transhipment port, marking a major milestone in the country’s maritime infrastructure development.
Developed under a public-private partnership model with Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, the Rs 8,867 crore project is expected to reshape cargo logistics and reduce India’s dependence on foreign transhipment hubs.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi described the Vizhinjam port as a transformative step in India’s maritime journey. Also present were Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani.
The port, which began partial operations in July 2023, has already handled around 250 container vessels and received its commercial commissioning certificate in December 2023.
Strategically located just 10 nautical miles from major global shipping routes, the Vizhinjam port leverages its natural depth of 18–20 meters to accommodate ultra-large container ships without requiring capital dredging, offering both operational efficiency and cost savings.
Reportedly, it is also designed with semi-automation, remote-controlled quay cranes and India’s first AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System
Until now, about 75 per cent of India’s transhipped cargo was routed through foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore and Jebel Ali, incurring additional costs of $80 to $100 per container.
Vizhinjam aims to cut those expenses and enhance resilience against global supply chain disruptions.
The port’s unique curvilinear coastline minimises tsunami impact and littoral drift, which translates into lower maintenance and desilting costs. This is an advantage over most Indian ports. Its connectivity is also a strong point, with links to National Highway 66 and railway networks just a few kilometres away
Phase 1 of the project enables the handling of up to one million TEUs annually, with plans to scale to 6.4 million TEUs in the future.
Earlier this month, the world’s largest eco-friendly container ship, MSC Turkiye, docked at Vizhinjam, underscoring its potential as a major transhipment hub. Experts say the port could eventually channel significant cargo volumes through Adani’s network of terminals across both coasts and support India’s growing trade with the US, Europe, Africa and East Asia.
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