Adani Ports Celebrates Historic Arrival of First Mother Ship at Vizhinjam Port

Adani Ports and SEZ announced the significant milestone of the first mother ship docking at Vizhinjam port. Inaugurated by Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, this event marks India's entry into the global transshipment market, featuring advanced technology and positioning Vizhinjam as a key player in international trade routes.

Adani Ports and SEZ on Friday announced the arrival of the first mother ship at its Vizhinjam port, marking a historic milestone in India's maritime journey. This event signifies the country's foray into the global transshipment market and positions Vizhinjam as a key player in international trade routes.

The inauguration was led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and presided over by VN Vasavan, Kerala's Minister for Ports. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, graced the occasion as the chief guest. This event also highlights India's first automated port, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and modern container handling equipment.

San Fernando, a 300-meter-long vessel operated by Maersk, will offload about 2,000 containers and manage 400 container movements within the vessel. Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, emphasized the port's technological edge, stating that Vizhinjam boasts South Asia's most advanced container handling technology.

Chief Minister Vijayan lauded the port's capacity, noting that Vizhinjam can host the world's largest ships and will soon commence full operations. Historically, India has lacked a dedicated transshipment port, leading to 75% of its transshipped cargo being handled by international ports.

Vizhinjam's strategic location is pivotal for handling traffic along major international routes connecting the US, Europe, Africa, and the Far East. The project, promoted by the Government of Kerala in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, marks the largest private sector investment in the state.

After securing the bid, Adani Ports and Logistics formed Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL) in 2015 to develop the project. Despite facing numerous challenges, the port is now in advanced stages of completion, underlining Adani Group's evolution into an Integrated Transport Utility.

With 15 ports across India's east and west coasts, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited continues to expand its footprint, including developments in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and operations in Haifa, Israel, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

(With inputs from agencies.)