Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Deepwater Seaport

Vizhinjam Port is one of the flagship projects of government of Kerala, India.Development of this seaport is of great national importance considering the fact that the majority of Indian transshipment is currently being handled by foreign ports. The site has been selected because of its natural water depth, minimal requirements for maintenance dredging , strong links to national and regional roads and rail networks as well as close proximity to international shipping routes. The port is strategically located approximately 10 nautical miles from the international shipping route which could attract large share of the container transshipment traffic destined or originated to/from India.

Vizhinjam port would primarily be competing with international ports for container transshipment traffic. The natural water depth available at proposed Vizhinjam port is more than any competing Indian port and more or equal than competing international ports. It will be able to capture the increasing trend of larger container vessels which none of the existing Indian ports can service, due to which majority of containers destined or generated from India are being transshipped or double-handled from competing international ports, resulting in higher import/export cost for Indian cargo.

The proposed port has the potential to become the transshipment hub serving the entire Indian coast. The port and associated facilities would significantly contribute to the large-scale growth of industry and economy in South India, particularly  Kerala, besides generating employment opportunities locally.The development and operation of the port will be through a Public Private Partnership  on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer  basis. The Project has been awarded to  Adani Ports  through an international competitive bidding process and the construction works is being progressed.Approximate project cost for the first phase development is over 1.0 billion US$ and the port is envisioned to have:

•  Breakwater of  length 3.10 Km
•  Container berths  capable of handling up to current largest 18,000 TEU container vessels.
•  Container yard on reclaimed land.
•  A Cruise berth and Facilities for Port craft.
• Fish landing center with  fishery berths  and associated infrastructure facilities.