The Vizhinjam International Seaport, Thiruvananthapuram, received its first mothership on Thursday. San Fernando, owned by SFL Corporation Ltd. and chartered by Maersk- (AP Moller Group), Denmark, reached the outer area of the port around 7 am and berthed at the port by 9:30 am.
San Fernando was welcomed with a water salute by tug 'Ocean Prestige' and thousands lined up on the port with Indian flag to welcome the vessel, which is 300 metres long and 48 metres wide.
When San Fernando unloads 1,930 containers in Vizhinjam, it will become a new history in India and a major milestone of the first phase of this mega project.
Vizhinjam Port is India’s first deepwater container transhipment port. The port has a natural draft of 18-20 meters, which means that some of the largest container vessels in the world will be able to dock here.
Located 16 km south of Kerala Capital, Thiruvananthapuram, Vizhinjam International Seaport falls in close proximity to the international East-West shipping route. On becoming operational, it is expected to compete with international ports like Colombo in Sri Lanka, Salalah in Oman and Singapore for container transhipment traffic. The natural water depth available at Vizhinjam port is more or equal to international ports. The port is being developed in a public-private partnership (PPP) model with Adani Ports as the private partner.
The arrival of San Fernando’ will commence the trail operations of the port, which is fast preparing for full commissioning. The official ceremony to receive the first mothership at the port will be held tomorrow.
Kerala Port Minister V N Vasavan had said that the Vizhinjam port can handle cargo after being declared a customs port. "The port has received the location code (IN NYY1) and is awaiting Electronic Data Interchange recognition, custodian code, Immigration Check Post clearance, full clearance of NSPC etc. The full-scale commercial operation of VIST is expected to start by December," the minister told Assembly.