Adani Group’s Vizhinjam International Sea Port, the largest transshipment port in India, has welcomed its first mothership, San Fernando, from China. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, officially launched the event, and VN Vasavan, the Minister for Ports in Kerala, presided over the gathering. The chief guest was Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

San Fernando Arriving at Vizhinjam International Sea port

A public-private partnership between Adani Ports and the government of Kerala constructed the Vizhinjam international seaport. The partnership invested around USD 664 million for the first phase of the transshipment port project in India.

Gautam Adani, CEO of Adani Group, highlighted that this milestone marks India's entry into global transshipment and ushers in a new era in India's maritime logistics, positioning Vizhinjam as a key player in global trade routes.

Adani Group will invest around USD 1 billion in the next phase of the project, which will generate around 2,000 job opportunities. The region is expected to receive investments in major infrastructure and renewable energy projects like green hydrogen, outer ring roads, logistics hubs, etc.

Vizhinjam Port boasts large-scale automation, ensuring quick turnaround of vessels and state-of-the-art infrastructure to handle Megamax containerships. This advanced technology and infrastructure instill confidence in the port's capabilities. Its capacity in phase 1 is to be 1 million TEUs; in subsequent phases, another 6.2 million TEUs will be added.

Vizhinjam Port

The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is an ambitious project designed primarily to handle container transshipment, multi-purpose cargo, and break bulk cargo. 

Adani Group started construction on December 5, 2015. The port is currently being developed through a PPP model. Adani Ports and the government of Kerala agreed to develop the port on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (“DBFOT”) basis.

The port is ten nautical miles from the busy international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East. Vizhinjam enjoys inherent locational advantages that position it for success as a global transshipment hub. Its proximity to the East-West axis, which accounts for a substantial quantum of international maritime trade, provides easy access without deviation for the large vessels that form the lifeline of today’s ocean commerce.

The port's deep draft of 18 meters close to shore requires no capital dredging; Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-gen container ships requiring 20 meters and above drafts. Its curvilinear coast mitigates tsunami impact, while the port’s positioning results in only mild erosion, minimizing maintenance costs. With capacity for 18,000 TEU ships, the scalable infrastructure at Vizhinam Port is set to establish India as a major transshipment hub.

Read: Indian Cabinet Approves the Construction of $9 Billion Vadhavan Port

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