Vizhinjam International Seaport is achieving remarkable achievements in its initial phase. As India’s first deep-sea, partially automated container transshipment port, Vizhinjam is creating wonders in this field.

Vizhinjam Port has created a miracle by handling 10,576 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) containers from the huge cargo ship MSC Paloma. For a new port, beyond the design capabilities, it is remarkable in the port sector to demonstrate that such a large amount of cargo was efficiently handled from a single ship.

Handling such a big number of containers (10,576 TEUs assuming more than 5,000 lifts if largely 40ft containers or more if mixed) within a relatively short port stay (2-3 days) requires not only crane capacity but also extremely effective yard management and planning systems. This illustrates how effectively the port uses AI and automation.

MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, deployed a major ship like the 14,000 TEU capacity MSC Paloma at the very early stage of Vizhinjam Port’s operations, with strong confidence in the port’s capabilities and strategic importance. 

A port call involves more than just moving containers between the ship and the gateway. Containers need to be transported to/from the yard stack, stored efficiently, and retrieved in the correct order for loading or onward transport. A disruption in any part of this chain can slow down the entire process. The successful handling of over 10,000 TEUs means that the integrated system, powered by automation and AI for optimization, has worked effectively under high load. This is a critical ‘stress test’ that the port has successfully completed. In addition, this particular operation involves significant transshipment activity, which is perfectly aligned with Vizhinjam’s primary strategic objective. This is the first time that such a large volume of local import/export (gateway cargo) in the Thiruvananthapuram region has been handled from a single ship call. This is a clear indication of the port’s capacity and future.