Why Vizhinjam International Seaport Is a Game-Changer for India’s Maritime Future

The Vizhinjam International Seaport, India’s first deep-water transshipment hub, marks the beginning of a new era for Asia’s sea trade. The strategically located port offers advanced automation, deep-sea access, and strong connectivity.

Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), India’s first deep-water transshipment hub, positions the country for greater trade engagement across Asia.

Officially inaugurated on May 2, 2025, Vizhinjam seaport is expected to play a vital role in enhancing India’s global trade presence. It aims to improve logistics performance, reduce dependence on international ports for transshipment, and increase efficiency in cargo handling.

India Briefing offers insights into the impact of this mega project on India’s maritime ecosystem, outlining its key features and strategic significance.

Key features of the Vizhinjam International Seaport

Public-private partnership model

Vizhinjam International Seaport, also known as Trivandrum Port, has been developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) between Adani Ports and the Kerala state government. The total cost of the project is approximately INR 88.67 billion (US$1.05 billion), with Kerala contributing over INR 55.95 billion (US$663.93 million).

Source: Vizhinjam International Seaport

The project was allotted to APSEZ by the state government in 2015 for a concession period of 40 years. The construction of all the phases of the port is expected to be completed by 2028 and become fully operational from 2034.

Strategic global location

Positioned just 10 nautical miles from the east-west international shipping corridor, Vizhinjam port offers direct access to one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world. Its proximity to Europe-Middle East-Asia (EMEA) lanes makes it a preferred port for global carriers, significantly reducing detour time and fuel costs.

Robust multimodal connectivity

The port’s infrastructure design incorporates rail and road connectivity, including a planned railway tunnel, which is expected to boost inland cargo movement and cut transit time across the southern part of the country.

Source: Vizhinjam International Seaport

India’s deepest breakwater

One of the highlights of Vizhinjam Port is its 2,960-meter-long breakwater, built in waters 18 to 20 meters deep. It rises as tall as a 9-story building, making it the deepest breakwater ever built in India.

Vizhinjam has a natural sea depth of 24 meters, which can handle ultra-large container ships (ULCS) without needing heavy dredging. This gives it a strong advantage over major international ports like Colombo (Sri Lanka), Jebel Ali (UAE), and Singapore.

High-capacity berths

Each berth at Vizhinjam is designed to handle ships carrying up to 24,000 TEUs, aligning with global standards for container transshipment and increasing India’s cargo-handling efficiency.

Technological edge and employment generation

Vizhinjam has been labelled as India’s first eco-friendly and semi-automated seaport, combining advanced automation with sustainable infrastructure to cater to the needs of environmentally conscious maritime operators.

The port is reportedly equipped with remotely controlled ship-to-shore cranes and automated yard cranes to deliver enhanced speed and safety in cargo handling. It also features the country’s first indigenously developed AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS).

The project is set to generate around 5,500 direct employment opportunities. Notably, Vizhinjam is also the first port in India to have an all-women team operating its automated crane systems, with the team trained at the Community Skill Park in Vizhinjam, Kerala.

Positive early performance

Within its first months of commercial operations, the port handled over 186,000 TEUs across 91 vessels in just February and March 2025—exceeding its capacity utilization rate by 110 percent, indicating strong demand and operational success.

Source: World Shipping Council

*TEU is an abbreviation of ‘twenty-foot equivalent unit,’ or, in other terms, a twenty-foot container. It can be used to measure vessel capacity. 

Docking world’s largest ships

Global shipping giants like MSC Turkiye (24,346 TEUs) and MSC Claude Girardet (24,116 TEUs) have already docked at Vizhinjam, indicating the port’s readiness to accommodate the world’s largest container vessels.

Expansion plans through 2028

On March 10, 2025, the Union Ministry of Environment gave the green light for phases two and three. This is expected to triple the port’s capacity—from 1 million to 3 million TEUs annually by 2028. 

Source: Vizhinjam International Seaport

Reclaiming transshipment from foreign ports

As per reports, nearly 75 percent of India’s transshipment cargo has been routed through the Colombo port of Sri Lanka, resulting in foreign exchange loss and higher logistics costs. Vizhinjam port is to bring this traffic back home, strengthening India’s control over its maritime trade routes.

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Conclusion

The Vizhinjam International Seaport marks a major leap in India’s maritime infrastructure, with its strategic location, advanced automation, and deepwater capabilities positioning it as a global transshipment hub. As it scales up capacity through 2028, the port is set to reclaim transshipment traffic from foreign ports, enhance trade efficiency, and boost India’s presence on global shipping routes.

(US$1 = INR 84.26)

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