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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘Vizhinjam International Seaport’ : 29 December

Daily News Analysis ‘Vizhinjam International Seaport’ : 29 December

Table of Content

Why in News? 

  • In December 2025, the Vizhinjam International Seaport marked its first year of commercial operations, having successfully handled over 14 lakh containers and officially receiving approval to begin its Phase II expansion in January 2026.

Vizhinjam Seaport

  • Nature of the Port: It is India’s first dedicated deep-water container transshipment hub. It is an all-weather, multipurpose, and greenfield port project.
  • Location: Situated near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, it is strategically located just 10 nautical miles from the international East-West shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and East Asia.
  • Development Model: Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) through a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) framework. The project is a collaboration between the Government of Kerala and Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPPL).
  • Natural Advantage: The port boasts a natural depth (draft) of 20–24 meters, which is rare globally. This allows it to host Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities exceeding 24,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) without extensive dredging.
  • Economic Significance: * It aims to reduce India’s reliance on foreign transshipment hubs like Colombo, Singapore, and Salalah (Oman), where 75% of Indian transshipment cargo is currently handled.
    • It is expected to save the Indian economy approximately $200–220 million in annual foreign exchange outflow.
  • Technological Features: * It is India’s first semi-automated port, featuring AI-driven vessel traffic management and remote-controlled quay cranes.
    • It recently received Integrated Check Post (ICP) status, facilitating faster immigration and customs clearance for international crew and cargo.
  • Environmental & Green Goals: The port is being developed as a Green Energy Hub, with plans for ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering of clean fuels like Hydrogen and Ammonia.
  • Historical Context: Historically known as “Balita” (recorded in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea), it was a major trade center for the Ay Dynasty and the Chola Empire (referred to as Rajendra Chola Pattinam).
DO YOU KNOW? DBFOT
  • DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer) is a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model for infrastructure projects.
  • A private entity designs, constructs, finances, and operates the project for a fixed period.
  • After the concession period, the asset is transferred back to the government.