Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. is planning to invest Rs 10,000 crore (approximately $1.2 billion) in the Vizhinjam port in Kerala, India. This substantial investment aims to enhance the port's transshipment container facilities, positioning it as a key player in global trade routes.
The project, part of the second phase, is expected to be completed by 2028. Adani is actively wooing major container lines such as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co, AP Moller - Maersk A/S, and Hapag-Lloyd to call at the port. This move reflects India's ambition to capture a larger share of international maritime trade, currently dominated by countries like China.
The port is set to welcome its first container vessel from Maersk on July 12 for a trial run at the 800-meter container berth.
The current capacity of Vizhinjam Port in its first phase is 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), making it India's deepest motherport with a water depth of 20 meters. In subsequent phases, an additional 6.2 million TEUs will be added. This strategic transshipment port is poised to handle larger container ships and play a crucial role in international maritime trade.
Vizhinjam Port, located near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, is India's first deepwater container transshipment port.
Vizhinjam is strategically positioned just 10 nautical miles from the busy international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East. Its proximity to this East-West axis allows large vessels to access the port without deviation, making it an ideal global transshipment hub. The port boasts a natural draft of 18-20 meters, which means it can accommodate some of the largest container vessels in the world without capital dredging. Its curvilinear coast mitigates tsunami impact, and minimal erosion keeps maintenance costs low.
As the southern tip of India, Vizhinjam can consolidate and transfer Indian and regional origin cargo to mainline vessels at lower costs than routing them via Colombo. By being right on top of a core international shipping lane, Vizhinjam unlocks lasting maritime and economic advantages for India.
The Adani Group is the private partner responsible for developing Vizhinjam Port, and it aims to enhance India's blue economy and foster inclusive growth.
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