The Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) is set to commence commercial operations on December 3, marking a significant milestone in India's maritime trade sector. The first phase of the semi-automated container port has undergone successful trial operations since July, and officials are now working closely with Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd to finalize the launch date.
During the trial period, the port has handled 20 ships, starting with the berthing of the mothership *San Fernando*. In a record-setting operation earlier this month, the port managed 10,330 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in a single vessel exchange with the container ship MSC ANNA, one of the world’s largest. To date, the port has unloaded over 60,503 TEUs of cargo.
Equipped with eight ship-to-shore cranes—the largest in India weighing 1,620 tonnes—and 23-yard cranes, the port has demonstrated its advanced handling capabilities. These cranes efficiently transfer containers from vessels to terminal tracks.
VISL has also secured the necessary certifications to operate as an international maritime hub. It received the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code certification, a requirement for serving international vessels. This certification, granted permanently in October, follows provisional approval issued in March by the Marine Merchant Department of the Ministry of Shipping and Ports, in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation's standards.
Furthermore, the port recently obtained its navigational chart from the National Hydrographic Office, providing critical safety information for ships docking at the facility.
With these advancements, Vizhinjam Port is poised to become a key player in global maritime trade when it begins full-scale operations in December
