Thiruvananthapuram: Vizhinjam Port is set to begin its commercial operations on Tuesday, following the completion of a four-month trial-run phase. The construction agreement between Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) and the Adani Group expires on Wednesday, with the formal inauguration and official commissioning of the port to be scheduled at the Prime Minister's convenience.
The trial run concluded on Monday, during which 60 ships docked at the port and handled over 1 lakh containers, demonstrating its operational capabilities. Before the official commissioning, a team of independent engineers from IIT Chennai will issue a certificate of completion for the port. While some construction work is still pending, it does not affect the port’s operations, and thus, a provisional certificate will be issued. The remaining work is expected to be completed within three months.
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The Kerala state government owes Rs 1600 crore to the Adani Group for the construction of the port, with only Rs 700 crore paid so far. The Adani Group has requested an urgent payment of Rs 900 crore to settle the remaining dues.
Port operations begin with transshipment services
Although the port is now operational, road connectivity is not yet complete, which means import and export activities will not begin immediately. Currently, the port will focus on transshipment services, where goods are transferred from large ships to smaller vessels for delivery to other locations.
Starting the next day, the Adani Group will inform VISL in writing about the activities at Vizhinjam port. However, according to the agreement, the port’s revenue will be shared with VISL beginning in 2035.
The inclusion of Vizhinjam in the schedules of two major services by the world’s leading shipping company, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), signals great potential. Vizhinjam has been added to the Jade service, connecting Asia and Europe, and the Dragon service, linking Europe and East Asia. This inclusion also increases the likelihood of the world’s largest ship, MSC Irina, arriving at Vizhinjam as part of the Jade service.
Published: 03 Dec 2024, 08:34 am IST
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