Vizhinjam: The first mother ship ‘MV San Fernando’ docked at India’s first deepwater container transhipment port here today. This marks the beginning of operation of the automated port equipped with state-of-the-art large-scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels including the capacity to handle megamax containerships.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal received ‘MV San Fernando’, which has a capacity of up to 9000 TEUs. This marked India’s foray into the next general world-class port infrastructure. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinari Vijayan was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Today is a historic day for the maritime sector of India as the maiden mothership docks at Vizhinjam, India’s first truly deep water International Container Transhipment terminal. This is a testament to the vision of ‘Make in India’ where a PPP collaboration among the Government of Kerala, the Government of India as well as the Adani Port SEZ has created a wonderful asset for the growth of India’s maritime sector,” Sonowal said.
Vizhinjam Port is a strategic maritime project near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. This is the first Greenfield port project in India, initiated by a state Government with an investment exceeding ₹18,000 crores. Developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, it stands as one of the largest initiatives in the country’s port sector.
Vizhinjam’s strategic location near international shipping routes significantly reduces transit times for vessels, making it a pivotal point for maritime trade. As one of India’s few natural deep-water ports, it can efficiently accommodate large cargo and container ships.
The development of the Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised to boost Kerala’s economic growth by creating jobs, enhancing trade, and attracting investments. Ongoing infrastructure projects aim to equip the port with state-of-the-art facilities, including modern container terminals, warehouses, and logistics parks. Vizhinjam is set to become a key player in regional trade, potentially serving as a gateway for commerce between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Sonowal said, “Today, with the operationalisation of Vizhinjam port, India is poised to reap the opportunity it creates in the region, and bringing healthy competition with Colombo and Singapore transhipment hubs. The government remains committed to enabling and equipping India’s maritime sector as projects worth more than ₹24,000 crores are being implemented in Kerala under the Sagarmala project – the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. With dynamic global scenario impacting the maritime sector, this port offers a viable alternative and an option to major shipping lines to mitigate the disruptions in the global supply chain.”
– global bihari bureau
