First Phase Of Vizhinjam Port To Be Operational By Onam, Says Adani Group

The first phase of the under-construction Vizhinjam seaport will become operational by Onam, writes Mathrubhumi.

Adani Vizhinjam Ports Ltd (AVLP), the company behind the port's construction, intends to conduct trial operations starting in May, using large barges carrying containers. Additionally, the Adani Group has initiated talks with international shipping companies regarding commercial transactions.

While ninety per cent of the 2,960-meter breakwater is finished, the first phase of the 800-meter berth is also in its final stage, with 650 metres completed so far. Breakwaters are mainly built to shelter vessels and are typically constructed in water depths ranging from 10 to 25 metres.

A 3,80,000-square-metres container yard is to be constructed to unload the containers arriving from the ship. In the first phase, about 100,000 square metres of work have been completed.

Additionally, 32 cranes, including 24-yard cranes and eight ship-to-shore cranes, will be fully installed by April. Construction is underway for a 1.7-kilometer road linking the port to the national highway. Pilot and survey vessels, mooring launches, navigation equipment, and four tugs to guide ships are scheduled for delivery to Vizhinjam soon.

It may be recalled that in 2015, Kerala government signed a concession agreement with Adani Vizhinjam Ports Ltd (AVLP) of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), the private multi-port operator to build the superstructure and operate the seaport.

As per the agreement, the first phase was scheduled to be complete by December 2019.

Nevertheless, the progress of the project was impeded by a shortage of rocks required for constructing the breakwater, leading to delays. Sourcing the necessary rocks proved challenging, thereby causing the first phase of the project to miss its scheduled completion.

The Vizhinjam International Port, hardly 11 nautical miles away from the international shipping channel, will be India’s first international deep-water transhipment port.

It has a natural draft of more than 18 metres, scalable up to 20 metres, which is crucial to getting large vessels and mother ships. The mother ships will start reaching the port after the completion of the first phase.