Adani Ports & SEZ has announced the arrival of the first mother ship at its Vizhinjam port, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime history. This event positions Vizhinjam as a key player in global transshipment.
The inauguration was led by Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, with V. N. Vasavan, Kerala’s Minister for Ports, presiding over the gathering. Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, was the chief guest.
Vizhinjam port, India’s first automated port, boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure capable of handling large ships. The San Fernando, a 300-meter-long container vessel operated by Maersk and with a capacity of 8,000-9,000 TEUs, will utilize the port’s services to offload around 2,000 containers and manage 400 container movements within the vessel.
Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ) emphasised the significance of Vizhinjam by stating, “San Fernando’s arrival at our harbour symbolises a remarkable achievement in Indian maritime history, signifying the commencement of commercial operations at India’s first transhipment terminal and largest deepwater port.” He highlighted the port’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, noting that Vizhinjam houses South Asia’s most advanced container handling technology, positioning it as one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated transhipment ports post the completion of automation and the Vessel Traffic Management System.
Previously, 75% of India’s transshipped cargo was handled by ports outside the country due to the absence of a dedicated transhipment port in India, despite the nation’s growing trade relations globally. Vizhinjam’s strategic location is set to not only facilitate the influx of transhipment traffic into India but also play a crucial role in managing traffic along major international trade routes linking India with the US, Europe, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Far East.
The Vizhinjam International Seaport project in Kerala, a significant economic infrastructure initiative under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, represents the largest private sector investment in the state. Adani Ports and Logistics, through its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), has been instrumental in driving the project’s development. Following a concession agreement with the Department of Ports, Government of Kerala, in August 2015, the port has overcome various challenges and is now nearing completion stages, poised to revolutionise India’s maritime landscape.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), a key division of the Adani Group, has transformed into an Integrated Transport Utility, offering end-to-end solutions from port gate to customer gate. As India’s largest port developer and operator, APSEZ manages 15 strategically located ports across the country—seven on the west coast (including Mundra, Hazira and Vizhinjam) and eight on the east coast (such as Haldia, Krishnapatnam and Karaikal), handling 27% of the nation’s port volumes. The company is also involved in global projects like a transshipment port in Colombo, operations at Haifa Port in Israel and a container terminal in Dar es Salaam Port, Tanzania.
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