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The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Vizhinjam Seaport marks first anniversary; second phase extension to begin by September
It was business as usual at the Vizhinjam International Seaport as the first deep-water container transshipment port in India celebrated its first anniversary of the commercial berthing of the maiden mother ship, MV San Fernando, owned by SFL Corporation Ltd. and chartered by Maersk (AP Moller Group), Denmark, carrying cargo from the Xiamen Port in China, on Saturday (July 12, 2025) Although the formal commercial commissioning of the port took place on December 3, 2024, the port began its limited-scale operations on July 12, 2024, after a ceremonial reception for the first mother vessel. In just one year, Vizhinjam emerged as a symbol of India's maritime might and technological and infrastructural leap by handling around 395 ships, including 23 ultra-large container vessels—most notably, MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship, which docked in India for the very first time—and handling 8.4 lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo, scripting a new milestone in the global port development benchmarks. This underscores the prowess of the Vizhinjam, as it has become one of the few ports globally to operate at full capacity within months of launch, a rare achievement. Achieving 100% capacity utilisation within a few months of commencing commercial operations, the Adani Vizhinjam Ports Private Limited (AVPPL), which developed the port as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the State government, is set to undertake the second and third phase development of the port by the end of September or the beginning of October. As part of the expansion of the project, the breakwater of the port will be extended by 1 km from the existing 3 km-long breakwater structure. Additionally, the berth in the port will be extended by 1.2 km from the existing 800 meters, along with the development of container yards and related infrastructure. Materials required for the port work have already been procured, and the work on the second and third phases, for which the port concessionaire will make an investment of about ₹10,000 crore, once the Arabian Sea becomes calm after the peak monsoon season, said sources. The port developer would also increase the number of cranes from the current 32 to 90, including 20 ship-to-shore cranes. The expansion of berth will allow the port to facilitate the berthing of five mother vessels at a time from the existing two. The port has already created 2000 employment opportunities and is expected to create more employment as it is set to grow into the gateway to India's maritime supremacy—anchoring the country's vision of becoming a global logistics powerhouse. However, one year into operation, the port could not start the EXIM trade from here due to a lack of road and rail connectivity to the port, which is the main shortcoming of the port now. As per the existing schedule, the rail and road connectivity will be completed by 2028, although a road being developed from the port concessionaire to connect the port with the National Highway is expected to be completed in three months. The full potential of the Vizhinjam port can be tapped for the EXIM community when freight transport reaches the point where it can be transported by land and rail from the port. At present, the port only facilitates transshipment of cargo from here by sea.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Vizhinjam port completes a year of operations
T'puram: Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday completed a year since the first ship docked at the port. Since July 11 last year, the port has handled 393 ships and 8.3 lakh containers. Minister V N Vasavan said that it is a landmark moment for the port. "In this period, Vizhinjam achieved remarkable progress that amazed the world. The ship San Fernando arrived with containers on July 11, 2024, and commercial operations began in Dec 2024," the minister said. In the past year, 392 ships arrived at Vizhinjam, including 23 ultra-large container ships like the MSC Irina, which is considered one of the largest container ships in the world. Many of these ships, including the Irina, berthed in India for the first time, Vasavan added. "Vizhinjam has become one of the rare ports globally to operate at full capacity within the initial months of commercial operation. It paved the way for India to demonstrate its capability to operate ports using advanced technologies like automation and AI," he added. For the past four months, Vizhinjam ranked first among ports on India's southeastern coast. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The training of local women to become India's first female automated crane operators gained international attention, the minister said. Through social responsibility initiatives in health, education, and skill development, the project supported over 100,000 people. As the first year is celebrated with pride, the second phase of construction, expected to cost over Rs 10,000 crores, will soon commence, Vasavan said. Vizhinjam is set to become a gateway to India's maritime dominance. The port is also gearing up to start EXIM cargo soon after the road connectivity is ready. The rail connectivity work will be completed in three years.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Vizhinjam Port handles nearly 400 ships since its launch last year, says Kerala Ports Minister, ET Infra
Advt By , ETInfra Vizhinjam transshipment hub has handled nearly 400 container ships in the past year, Kerala Ports Minister V N Vasavan said in a Facebook post marking the first anniversary of the port's inaugural by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) under a public-private partnership model, the port was built at an estimated cost of ₹8,867 that Vizhinjam has emerged as the top port on India's south-east coast, the minister described it as 'one of the rare ports in the world' to begin full-capacity operations within a year of its launch in December last total, the port has received 392 vessels, including 23 ultra-large ships and the world's largest container vessel, the MSC Irina. With expanding AI and automation capabilities, Vizhinjam has handled 8.3 lakh containers so far."Along with celebrating the first year with pride, the second phase construction works which are expected to cost more than ₹10,000 crore will also start soon. Vizhinjam will grow as a gateway to India's maritime superiority ." Vasavan minister also highlighted that Vizhinjam port is home to India's first female automated crane operators , all recruited from local communities. The port is supporting over one lakh people through various social impact initiatives in health, education, and skill development, he added.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Very large vessel MSC Irina docks at Vizhinjam int'l port
T'puram: One of the biggest container ships, MSC Irina, docked at Vizhinjam international port on Monday. Departing from Singapore, it reached the outer sea of the port on June 3 and docked on Monday morning. This is the first time the ship arrived at a south Asian port, said a press release. The ship has a capacity of 24,346 containers and measures 399.9m in length and 61.3m in width. VISL MD Divya S Iyer officially welcomed the captain and crew aboard the ship. The ship is a crucial maritime service on the Asia-Europe trade route. tnn
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
MSC Irina docking is milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as key player in global transshipment: Karan Adani
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 9 (ANI): The docking of world's largest container ship, MSC Irina, at Vizhinjam International Seaport is a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transhipment, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ, Karan Adani, said on Monday. 'Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port. This marks the vessel's maiden visit to South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transshipment. A bold vision now in motion,' Karan Adani said in a post on X. The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, docked at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning and will be berthed till Tuesday. According to an Adani Group press release, this monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximately four times longer than a standard FIFA-designated football field. Designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of large volumes of containers between Asia and Europe, the MSC IRINA is pivotal in enhancing trade routes and logistics efficiency. This vessel makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port, highlighting Vizhinjam's capabilities in handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). The port has recently welcomed other Icon-class vessels, including MSC Turkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini, further establishing its reputation as a key hub in maritime trade. The MSC IRINA was launched in March 2023 and embarked on its maiden voyage in April of the same year. It is engineered to stack containers up to 26 tiers high, offering unparalleled capacity in container stacking. Notably, the MSC IRINA surpasses its predecessor, OOCL Spain, by a margin of 150 TEUs. In alignment with contemporary environmental standards, the vessel is equipped with energy-saving features that contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 4 per cent, significantly lowering its carbon footprint while maintaining operational efficiency. (ANI)
