Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram
The Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram is India’s first deep water container transshipment port located in the capital city Trivandrum, Kerala the port is designed to be a multi-purpose, all-weather, green port located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. It is poised to become India’s first Mother port and holds a unique position as the only Indian port directly adjacent to an international shipping lane. The port’s location offers a significant advantage: it lies just 10 nautical miles (19 km) from the heavily trafficked east-west shipping channel connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and the Far East (Suez- Far East route and Far East – Middle East route). The port has a natural depth of 24 meters, which reduces the need for dredging, and possesses the capability to host many of the world’s massive cargo ships, including those exceeding 24,000 TEU, such as vessels of the ULCS container ships like the MSC irina. The cruise berth under construction along the breakwater will be able to handle large cruise ships such as the Icon of the seas. The Seaport’s location offers an advantage as it is situated near an international shipping channel, facilitating connections to global trade routes. When fully commissioned, it is expected that the seaport may have the capacity to cater to 50 percent of the container transhipment needs of India that currently take place at Dubai, Colombo and Singapore The first phase of the project amounts to ₹8,867 crore (US$1.1 billion or €1.1 billion), and the remaining phases cost ₹20,000 crore (US$2.4 billion or €2.5 billion) making the total cost ₹28,867 crore.
The port’s location near the southern tip of the Indian coastline provides access to various other Indian ports on both the eastern and western coasts. The port’s breakwater has a height of 7.5 meters above the waterline and extending 22 meters below. The current length of breakwater is 3.1 kilometers, and will be extended to 4.5 kilometers in the final phase. The STS Super Post-Panamax crane has specifications that include an outreach of 72 meters, a back reach of 20 meters, a rail gauge of 35 meters, and a total lifting height of 74 meters.This is the tallest STS crane in India.A railway connection is planned for Vizhinjam Seaport, which will include the construction of what is projected to be the third longest railway tunnel in India. This development aims to enhance the port’s connectivity with the national railway network, facilitating efficient cargo transportation.
Each berth has the capacity to handle 24,000 TEU. The Port is located on the Arabian Sea –Laccadive Sea –Indian Ocean and the first phase is expected to be commissioned in Dec 2024. It is a state owned port, owned by Government of Kerala and will be operated by the Adani Group for a period of 40 years.
Vizhinjam International Seaport is expected to have an impact on existing cargo movement to other ports and will cater to transshipment. The majority of containers originating from or destined for India are typically transshipped or subjected to double handling at international ports such as Colombo in Sri Lanka, Salalah in Oman, Port of Jebel ALI in Dubai and Singapore. Vizhinjam Seaport will primarily engage in competing with these international ports for container transshipment activities. The development of the port will be carried out in three phases, and the first phase is expected to get completed by September 2024. It is proposed to follow the landlord port model, with the intention of catering for passenger, container and other cargo shipping.
Vizhinjam Seaport and Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram are two distinct facilities in Thiruvananthapuram. Vizhinjam Seaport is managed by the Kerala Maritime Board and primarily supports maritime activities.Vizhinjam Seaport is located inside Vizhinjam harbour.The port features two berths, namely seaward and leeward. Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram (Port Location code: IN NYY), managed by Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), is a designed for handling large container ships and supporting international trade. To avoid confusion between the two ports, the new port is often referred to as Thiruvananthapuram Port or Trivandrum Port. Although these ports are close to each other, they serve different functions and are managed by different authorities under Kerala Government.
Infrastructure and characteristics
Vizhinjam, about 14 km (8.7 mi) from Kerala’s capital city of Thiruvanathapuram, is only about 10 nautical miles (19 kilometres) from the international east–west shipping route connecting Western Asia, Europe, Africa and the far eastern areas of the world. It is India’s first Deep Water Transshipment Terminal, and is being developed in three distinct phases. Vizhinjam has neglibible littoral sedimentation. By having a natural depth of 24 m (79 ft), the construction requires minimal dredging. Due to close proximity to international shipping routes and the utilization of advanced port facilities further shortens the vessel’s turn around time (VTT).
Once phase 1 is completed, Vizhinjam port is expected to accommodate 1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units), with succeeding phases adding another 6.2 million TEUs, accounting for more than 70% of India’s transshipment as of 2023. The seaport will be connected by the third-longest railway tunnel in India, presently under planning phase and due for completion in 2028. The STS Super Post-Panamax crane has an outreach of 72 meters, a back reach of 20 meters, a rail gauge of 35 meters, and a total lifting height of 74 meters.
The port would include two breakwaters, as well as a harbor basin and wharfs. In phase 1, breakwater of total length 3,180 m (10,430 ft) (main breakwater 3,040 m (9,970 ft) with 140 m (460 ft) extension for fish landing harbor) will be developed. There would be approximately 10+ (2000m length overall) berths, the majority of which would be capable of accommodating mother ships. A dedicated 500 m (1,600 ft) multipurpose berth has been designed for berthing luxury cruise ships. It has a container berth with a length of 800 m (2,600 ft) capable of handling up to the current largest 18,000 TEU container vessels and a container yard behind the quay length with a depth of up to 500 m (1,600 ft). There is a fish landing center with a total berth length of 500 m (1,600 ft) along with port craft berth of 100 m (330 ft) and Coast Guard berth of 120 m (390 ft). There are berthing and storage/operation facilities for Indian Navy with a berth 500 m (1,600 ft) long.
Cruise Terminal
Vizhinjam’s location provides access to various beaches, historical sites, and cultural attractions in Kerala, including Kovalam, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The port is set to feature a Cruise Terminal with a dedicated cruise berths which is 600 meters (2,000 feet) long, and a multipurpose berth that is 620 meters (2,030 feet), which can also serve as an additional cruise berth. This configuration will enable the terminal to accommodate two large ships, such as the Icon of the Seas, each requiring 400 meters, or up to four smaller cruise ships, each needing 300 meters. The completion of the berths will occur in phases, with the first berth expected to be finished in the second phase and the second berth in the third phase. By 2026, the terminal’s berths are projected to be capable of accommodating the largest cruise ships in the world.
Crew Change
Vizhinjam Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram is expected to serve as a convenient point for vessels navigating the Indian Ocean region to carry out crew change operations. Its proximity to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, located just 16 km (9.9 mi) from the seaport, further facilitates ease of crew changes. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the port supported crew change operations for 736 mother vessels, enabling the embarkation and disembarkation of crew members. The first crew change during the trial run took place in August 2024.
Bunkering
Upon its commissioning, the port is expected to become an important destination for bunkering and a significant port of call due to its location, approximately 10 nautical miles from a major international east–west shipping route. The port’s master plan includes provisions for a bunkering capacity with a Liquid Storage Area for Bunkering Tank Farm and associated utilities during the initial phase.
Administration
Vizhinjam port is a special purpose government company, fully owned by the Government of Kerala, that would act as an implementing agency for its development. In 2015, the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited signed a 40-year agreement with the state government to build and maintain the port. Under this private public partnership deal, the Adani group would design, develop, finance, operate the port valued at 7,525 crore. According to the signed deal, Adani Group will have the only right to operate the port under licence for the first 40 years, and then for an additional 20 years if they builds the second phase of the project at its own expense during the first 30 years.
Legal Disputes
The Government of Kerala and the Adani group have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the delay in completion of the project. The project was delayed after the private partner – Adani repeatedly kept on invoking the force majeure clause to explain the delay in completing the project. Later, the parties agreed to enter into an arbitration to resolve the dispute.