Adani’s Vizhinjam Port Welcomes Largest-Ever Container Ship to Indian Waters
Thiruvananthapuram,(The Uttam Hindu): In a significant milestone for India’s maritime sector, Vizhinjam International Seaport, developed and managed by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, received MSC Turkiye on Wednesday. The ship is one of the world’s largest and most environmentally sustainable container vessels, marking its first visit to any Indian port. Measuring 399.9 meters in length, 61.3 meters in width, and 33.5 meters in depth, MSC Turkiye has a remarkable capacity of 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), making it the largest container ship to dock at an Indian port to date.
Operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and flagged under Liberia, the vessel is known for its cutting-edge, fuel-efficient technology and eco-friendly engineering. This achievement underscores the growing prominence of Vizhinjam Port as a leading global transshipment hub. Strategically located just 10 nautical miles (19 km) from the major east-west international shipping route, the port’s natural draft of 20 meters enables it to accommodate ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) without the need for major dredging.
MSC Turkiye’s docking surpasses the previous record held by MSC Claude Girardet, which set a benchmark with its 24,116 TEU capacity in September 2024. As India’s first Mega Transshipment Container Terminal, Vizhinjam is equipped with advanced automation and infrastructure to ensure rapid vessel turnaround times. Phase 1 of the port is currently capable of handling 1 million TEUs, with plans to expand to 5.5 million TEUs by 2028. Adani Ports and SEZ holds a 40-year concession with the Kerala government to develop and manage the port. Once fully operational, Vizhinjam is expected to handle almost half of India’s container transshipment needs, reducing dependence on international hubs like Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai. This development is part of Adani Group’s broader investment strategy, with plans to invest Rs 30,000 crore in Kerala over the next five years, including expanding the Vizhinjam Port, Thiruvananthapuram Airport, and a logistics hub.
