Arshid Rasool
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 (JKNS): As part of an ongoing media tour organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar, a delegation of journalists today visited the Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala.
Developed by Adani Ports and Logistics, the port was inaugurated in May 2025 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and is India’s first major deep-water container transshipment hub, strategically designed to enhance national maritime trade and reduce dependence on foreign ports.
The delegation is being led by Majid Pandit, Media & Communication Officer, PIB Srinagar, who is also the Conducting Officer for the programme.
Shri Pradeep Jayaraman, CEO of Adani Vizhinjam Port, briefed the delegation on the port’s infrastructure and operational advantages. He highlighted modern quay cranes, fully automated yard equipment, integrated digital systems, and advanced Vehicle Traffic Management, which ensure seamless cargo handling.
Vizhinjam’s natural deep draft and proximity to international shipping lanes enable efficient container transshipment between major global ports, offering a viable alternative to Dubai, Colombo, and Singapore. The port has permanent rail connectivity, enhanced road access via Clover Bridge, multipurpose berths, liquid berths, tank farms, and allied infrastructure such as logistics parks, warehousing zones, and container repair yards.
The port’s first phase of operations is scheduled to start EXIM operations from Q4 FY26, with full-phase completion accelerated to 2028, much ahead of the original 2045 plan. The expansion includes a total 2,000m container berth, targeting an annual handling capacity of 5.7 million TEUs.
Vizhinjam Port has handled 740 vessels, including 40+ Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities over 20,000 TEUs. It set a record by managing 10,576 TEUs in a single vessel exchange (MSC Paloma) and berthed the world’s largest container vessel, MSC IRINA, on June 9, 2025, measuring 399.99 meters in length with 24,346 TEU capacity. MSC Verona was handled at a draft of 17.1 meters, marking India’s deepest container draft operation.
The port also boasts India’s largest breakwater wall (3,879m), ensuring safe operations, along with advanced 100% remotely operated Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 24 fully automated Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry (CRMG) cranes in the container yard. These systems allow all-weather operations with negligible downtime and best-in-class productivity (~29 moves per hour).
Vizhinjam Port prioritizes upskilling and employment, providing career opportunities to local youth and women. Around 70 percent of the workforce is drawn from Kerala, while 30 percent comes from other states, ensuring a mix of local engagement and national participation. The port has trained India’s first female crane operator and runs capacity-building programmes for women and local communities, promoting inclusive growth, sustainable practices, and social empowerment.
The delegation was informed that Vizhinjam Port is India’s largest deep-water port, fully equipped with automated machinery and smart systems, which are expected to boost regional economic growth, enhance trade efficiency, and generate direct and indirect employment. The port also supports local communities and poor families through skill development initiatives and structured training programmes.
The journalists visited multiple operational areas, including the container yard and control rooms, witnessing highly automated and digitally integrated operations. They observed firsthand how the port’s operations balance high-end technology with human capacity-building, enabling both economic progress and social upliftment.
Shri Majid Pandit introduced the journalists to the port’s functions and emphasised that the visit is part of a five-day media outreach programme by PIB Srinagar, aimed at providing first-hand exposure to India’s key infrastructure projects, research institutions, and government initiatives.
The visit highlighted Vizhinjam Port’s transformative role in India’s maritime trade, technological advancement, and regional development, underlining its strategic importance as a national asset and a model of modern, inclusive infrastructure. (JKNS)
