Kerala transhipment hub welcomes first Maersk vessel

The Indian ports scene has entered a new, more sophisticated era with the call of the 300 m long, 8,700 teu San Fernando ship operated by Maersk. 

The ship is moored at the brand new Vizhinjam Port in Kerala in the far southwest of the country, a facility Adani Ports aims to make a top transhipment hub with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and Hapag-Lloyd also tipped to call at the port soon.

“Kerala’s long-cherished dream has become a reality today,” the state’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after the inauguration of the trial run.

“Ports are crucial to development of any economy. This marks a significant chapter in the history of Kerala,” he added.

The port’s first phase features an 800 m long container quay and depths alongside of 20 m. Adani Ports has set aside hundreds of millions of dollars for phase two development, due for completion by 2028. 

India’s bid to take away transhipment business from established regional leader Sri Lanka is gaining steam.

Nearly 75% of India’s transhipped cargo is handled at ports outside India. Colombo, Singapore and Port Klang handle more than 85% of this cargo, something New Delhi is keen to claw back onto home soil as it begins a mammoth period of ports construction over the next decade.

A long-planned mega port got the green light from New Delhi last month, the latest in a series of new terminal announcements. The giant Vadhavan port, located some 125 km north of Mumbai on India’s west coast, has been discussed for more than a decade, but finally, the Narendra Modi administration has approved the huge $9.1bn development.