Vizhinjam Port
The Vizhinjam International Seaport (also known as the Trivandrum International Seaport) commenced full commercial operations on December 3, 2024, and has since achieved significant milestones as India's first deep-water transshipment port.
Key Information and Latest Updates (as of December 2025)
- Operational Success: On December 3, 2025, the port celebrated its one-year anniversary of commercial operations, during which it handled over 1.32 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo and more than 615 vessels. It became the fastest Indian port to handle one million TEUs, exceeding initial projections more than three times over.
- Deep-Water Capability: The port is naturally deep (over 18 meters) and has no maintenance dredging requirement, allowing it to accommodate the world's largest container ships, known as "motherships" or Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), which previously bypassed India for ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.
- Handling Mega Vessels: The port has successfully berthed 41 ULCVs (over 399 meters long) within its first year, including the world's largest eco-friendly container ship, the MSC Türkiye and the deepest-draft vessel to call South Asia, the MSC Verona.
- Infrastructure and Technology: The port is a semi-automated facility utilizing an AI-driven control room, remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes, and fully automated yard cranes for quick vessel turnaround times. It is currently connected by road and a railway tunnel (India's third-longest) is under construction and expected to be completed by 2028.
- Second Phase Underway: The second phase of development has begun, with plans for an investment of approximately ₹9,700 crore by the Adani Group (the port concessionaire). This phase will extend the berth and breakwater, with a goal to increase the port's annual handling capacity to over 4 million TEUs by 2028.
- Economic Impact: The port's strategic location (just 10 nautical miles from major international shipping routes) is expected to make it South Asia's leading transshipment hub, providing significant forex savings and job opportunities for India.
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