Vizhinjam Port poised to elevate India’s status as premier container transshipment hub

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Vizhinjam International Seaport, being developed in public-private partnership by the Kerala government, central government and the Adani Group, will ultimately be able to handle over 5 million TEUs and offer an alternative to nearby container transshipment ports such as Singapore and Colombo.

On Friday, trial runs of the first mothership with a full container load of cargo were successfully conducted. The project involves a total investment of ₹18,000 crore, with ₹8,867 crore allocated for the first phase. The Kerala government is contributing ₹5,596 crore, while the Adani Group is investing ₹2,454 crore, holding a 27% stake.

The total envisaged length is 2 km of which 800 metres will be implemented in the first phase and the remaining 1.2 km in subsequent phases.

In a trial run the first mothership, a 300 metre long container vessel San Fernando operated by Maersk arrived at the port on Friday with a full container load of cargo. It has a capacity of 8000-9000 TEUs and is expected to be followed by even larger vessels.

The goverment and Adani Ports and Special Processing Zone have spent a ₹8,800 crore so far, of which the Adani share is ₹3,600 crore in the first phase, Karan Adani said. He said another ₹20,000 crore over the remaining three phases.

In the first phase the port will handle 1 million TEUs that can be increased to 1.5 million added Adani. By the end of 2028 the port will be able to handle 3 million TEUs. The capacity can be expanded further to over 5 million TEUs, Adani said. Port official said the port has been sanctioned a loan of ₹2,100 crore from NABARD.

The port already has 600 meters of operational quay length and 7,500 container yard slots are being prepared to accept cargo. The turnaround time at the port is expected to be around 24 hours. The port is also in close proximity to the international shipping route at around 10 nautical miles.

Apart from Maersk, other shipping lines such as Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd is also understood to be keen to route its cargo through Vizhinjam. “What we are doing is providing the competitive solution,”said Adani Ports’ CEO Ashwani Gupta. “Maersk happens to be the first,.but we are open for all the shipping lines, our competitiveness will attract all the shipping lines. Everyone who goes through this global trade route will be attracted to this port…this is a strategic port on the global trade route.”

Initially, the port will handle 1 million TEUs, with plans to increase capacity to 3 million TEUs by the end of 2028. Future expansions could see the port’s capacity reach 5 million TEUs, according to officials.

A loan of ₹2,100 crore from NABARD has been sanctioned to support the project.