Vizhinjam Port

Vizhinjam Port Latest News

The Prime Minister will formally open the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, marking a major step in putting the southern state on the global maritime map.

About Vizhinjam Port

• Location: It is located at Vizhinjam, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala.
• It is India's first dedicated transshipment port and also the country's first semi-automated port.
• Built at a cost of around Rs 8,900 crore under public-private partnership (PPP) mode, the transshipment port is operated by the Adani Group, with the Kerala government holding the majority stake.
• Features:
  • The breakwater at Vizhinjam is the deepest in India and stretches nearly three kilometres. It has a natural draft of around 20 metres. 
  • It also features India's first home-built, AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System,developed with IIT Madras.
  • It is equipped with fully automated yard cranes and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes for faster and safer operations. 
  • Unlike most Indian ports, Vizhinjam experiences minimal sand movement along the coast (littoral drift), which reduces maintenance costs.
• Importance:
  • Vizhinjam’s strategic location—just 10 nautical miles from a key international shipping route—and naturally deep waters make it ideal for accommodating large container vessels. 
  • Until now, 75% of India’s transshipment traffic was handled abroad, leading to foreign exchange losses. Vizhinjam aims to change that by reclaiming a substantial share of this traffic.
  • The port now shares routes with global hubs like Shanghai, Singapore, and Busan.
  • Plans are also underway to turn Vizhinjam into a multi-modal logistics hub, with direct highway connectivity via NH-66, Kerala’s first cloverleaf interchange, and an upcoming railway link to the national network.

Vizhinjam Port FAQs

Q1. Where is Vizhinjam Port located?

Ans. Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala

Q2. What is the major distinction of Vizhinjam Port in the context of Indian ports?

Ans. India’s first dedicated transshipment port and semi-automated port

Q3. Who operates the Vizhinjam Port under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model?

Ans. Adani Group

Source: NDTV