The ship, with a capacity upto 9000 TEUs, docks at India’s first
automated port which is equipped with state of the art that offers large scale
automation for quick turnaround of vessels including capacity to handle megamax
containerships.
The Chief
Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinari Vijayan was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “This wonderful achievement
marks the beginning of a new era in the ports sector of the country. This is a big step towards
realisation of the vision of PM Narendra Modi ji of creating world class port
infrastructure in the country. In the same spirit of nation building, our
ministry, under the visionary guidance of PM Narendra Modi ji, is working
towards execution of Mega Port Projects including All Weather Deep Draft Port
at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and International Container Transhipment Terminal
(ICTT) at Galathea Bay in a mission mode.”
Vizhinjam Port is a strategic maritime project near Thiruvananthapuram
in Kerala. This is the first Greenfield port project in India, initiated by a
state Government with an investment exceeding ₹18,000 crores. Developed under
the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, it stands as one of the largest
initiatives in the country’s port sector. …The
development of the Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised to boost Kerala’s
economic growth by creating jobs, enhancing trade, and attracting investments.
Ongoing infrastructure projects aim to equip the port with state-of-the-art
facilities, including modern container terminals, warehouses, and logistics
parks. Vizhinjam is set to become a key player in regional trade, potentially
serving as a gateway for commerce between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and
Africa.
Speaking further, Shri Sonowal added, “Today, with the
operationalisation of Vizhinjam port, India is poised to reap opportunity it
creates in the region, and bringing healthy competition with Colombo and
Singapore transhipment hubs. The government remains committed to enable and
equip India’s maritime sector as projects worth more than ₹24,000 crores are
being implemented in Kerala under the Sagarmala project – the flagship programme
of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. With dynamic global scenario impacting the maritime sector, this port
offers a viable alternative and an option to major shipping lines to mitigate
the disruptions in the global supply chain.”