Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, received the first Mother Ship ‘MV San Fernando’ marking the beginning of operation at India’s First deep water container transhipment port in Vizhinjam, Kerala on 12th July, 2024. Pinari Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, was also present on the occasion, informed Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, PIB.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Today is a historic day for the maritime sector of India as the maiden mothership docks at Vizhinjam, India’s first truly deep water International Container Transhipment terminal. This is the testament of the vision of ‘Make in India’ where a PPP collaboration among Govt. of Kerala, Govt. of India as well as the Adani Port SEZ has created a wonderful asset for growth of India’s maritime sector.”
He further stated that through the leadership of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, “India is equipping and enabling entrepreneurial ventures and collaborating as and when required to build capacity for the cause of nation building. 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, one of the largest initiatives in the country’s port sector is located in Kerala. It is India’s first Greenfield port project initiated by a state Government with an investment exceeding ₹18,000 crores, developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Strategically located near international shipping routes, it has significantly reduced transit times for vessels, and further accommodate large cargo and container ships efficiently.
The International Seaport is aimed to boost Kerala’s economy by creating jobs, enhancing trade, and attracting investments. Additionally, the ongoing infrastructure projects include modern container terminals, warehouses, and logistics parks. Vizhinjam is set to become a key player in regional trade, serving as a gateway for commerce between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Sonowal added, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, India has fast tracked development of ports sector in the country, as we aim to become top maritime global power in the years to come. 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.”
