Context: India’s first deep water and container transshipment port at Vizhinjam, Kerala has been officially inaugurated. The port is of immense significance to India’s global maritime trade.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Vizhinjam International Seaport
- India’s first dedicated container transshipment port.
- It is an all-weather deep water port. Its natural draft of about 20 metres requires minimal capital dredging.
- It is the first semi-automated port in India and the first greenfield port project.
- Developed by: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) under a public-private partnership model with the Kerala government.
Need for the Port:
- India relies heavily on foreign ports (like Colombo, Singapore and Klang) for handling around 75% of its inbound and outbound transshipment cargo. This results in an annual revenue loss of approximately $200 million-$220 million.
- India’s container throughput capacity last year was approximately 20 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), contrasting with China’s 330 million TEUs. This highlights the need for modern ports such as Vizhinjam.
Historical Importance of Vizhinjam:
The town of Vizhinjam in Kerala has played a crucial role in the history of global maritime trade.
- Inscriptions from the Pandya-Chola era (1129 AD) records Vizhinjam as Rajendra Chola Pattinam, a port of Kerala.
- Historians claim that Balita, a port with considerable commercial importance which finds mention in the first century AD historical travelogue ‘The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’, is Vizhinjam’s old name.
However, this historical significance faded away after colonisers of India prioritised ports in other places like Cochin and Madras.
Significance of Vizhinjam International Seaport:
- Proximity to international shipping routes: Amongst all existing Indian ports, Vizhinjam is the closest to international shipping routes. It is strategically located just 10 nautical miles from international shipping routes linking Europe, West Asia and the Far East, the east-west shipping axis. Ultra-large container vessels can berth without deviating from their route, thereby saving costs.
- Efficiency with Modern Infrastructure: As India’s first semi-automated port equipped with remote-controlled quay cranes and an AI-powered vessel traffic management system, Vizhinjam will significantly reduce vessel turnaround times.
- Boost to local economy: The start of import-export operations at Vizhinjam would fast-track the development of associated infrastructure like industrial corridor, allied businesses including ship building, ship repair, logistics, warehousing and direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Also Read: Port Economy will drive India’s growth
The Centre and the State must ensure the timely completion of rail and road connectivity, which is crucial for leveraging the port’s full potential. Warehousing, logistics, and industrial facilities are essential for the port to evolve into a thriving commercial maritime hub.