On May 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first transshipment port in India’s southwestern state of Kerala. The Vizhinjam Port has conducted trial runs since July 2024, with “over 285 vessels docking before its formal inauguration. It is also the first semi-automated port in the country and is equipped with an AI-powered vessel management system,” noted [Times of India on May 3.
The port has a natural depth of 20 meters which will allow large ships to berth, and is expected to be a boost to India’s economy, since it has lost revenue due to 75% of its container cargo being handled by foreign ports, including Colombo, Dubai and Singapore, which created longer shipping times and increased costs.
“Modi linked the project to India’s broader maritime strategy, referring to Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced at the G20 summit. While the port itself was under development for years, much of the construction and equipment involved private sector collaboration, particularly Adani Ports, which is operating the terminal,” reported Times of India.
Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, posted on his X account, “Today, at Vizhinjam, history, destiny and possibility came together as a 30-year-old dream of Kerala became India’s gateway to the world. We are proud to have built India’s first deep-sea automated port. A future global transshipment hub. This is a triumph of vision, resilience and partnership. Grateful to PM Narendra Modi and [Kerala Chief Minister] Pinarayi Vijayan for their support. Together, we sail toward a stronger, bolder India.”
