CM Pinarayi Vijayan Welcomes First Vessel to Vizhinjam International Seaport

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with political leaders and officials, officially welcomed the first vessel to the Vizhinjam International Seaport. The event, graced by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Ports Minister Ahmed Devarkovil, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and other state ministers, was marked by a green flag wave from CM Vijayan, signifying the tugboats to guide the massive Chinese ship, Zhen Hua 15, from the wharf to the docking yard.

Accompanied by a water salute and vibrant celebrations, the vessel, which arrived at Vizhinjam two days prior, carried essential ship-to-shore and yard cranes. These cranes, including eight super post panamax cranes and 32 shore cranes, are crucial for the port’s construction. Currently, 65% of the first phase of the Vizhinjam project is complete. The port, developed under a public-private partnership with the Adani Group, is set to become one of the world’s largest ports upon completion, scheduled for May 2024. Originally planned for commissioning in 2019, the project faced delays due to challenges related to land acquisition, raw material shortages, and local fishermen protests.