India’s First Deep Water Container Transhipment Port Begins Operations in Vizhinjam, Kerala

Vizhinjam, Kerala: In a landmark event for India’s maritime sector, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, welcomed the first Mother Ship, ‘MV San Fernando,’ to India’s premier deep water container transhipment port in Vizhinjam, Kerala, today. This significant milestone marks the commencement of operations at the state-of-the-art port, which boasts the capacity to handle vessels up to 9000 TEUs and features extensive automation capabilities for efficient turnaround, including the handling of megamax containerships. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, also graced the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Sonowal stated, “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 the testament of the vision of ‘Make in India’ where a PPP collaboration among the Government of Kerala, the Government of India, and the Adani Port SEZ has created a wonderful asset for the growth of India’s maritime sector. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is equipping and enabling entrepreneurial ventures and collaborating as and when required to build capacity for the cause of nation-building. This wonderful achievement marks the beginning of a new era in the ports sector of the country. This is a big step towards the realization of the vision of PM Narendra Modi ji of creating world-class port infrastructure in the country. In the same spirit of nation-building, our ministry, under the visionary guidance of PM Narendra Modi ji, is working towards the execution of Mega Port Projects including All Weather Deep Draft Port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay in a mission mode.”

Vizhinjam Port is a strategic maritime project near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, marking India’s first Greenfield port project 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. The port’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.

Further elaborating on the project’s significance, Sonowal added, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, India has fast-tracked the development of the ports sector in the country, as we aim to become a top maritime global power in the years to come. Today, with the operationalization of Vizhinjam port, India is poised to reap the opportunities it creates in the region, 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 the 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.”