The first massive mothership to India is scheduled to reach Vizhinjam on July 11. The container ship will be berthed on July 12, with a trial run inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Minister VN Vasavan announced that the Vizhinjam International Port will be officially commissioned during the Onam festival. Speaking after a review meeting, the minister revealed that although only one vessel will arrive for the trial run, a series of vessels will follow before the official commissioning. Union ministers from Kerala will be invited to the commissioning ceremony. NABARD will secure a loan to provide state assistance to the port.
A tripartite agreement for the VGF contract with the Centre will be signed this month. Rail connectivity to the port will be established within two years, along with the construction of a ring road. All background facilities are complete, and any remaining concerns will be addressed before the commissioning. The review meeting included Minister Saji Cherian, MLA M Vincent, Mayor Arya Rajendran, VISL authorities, and Adani Ports authorities.
The first shipment will include 1,500 containers. The berthing time for the container ship has not yet been fixed, but containers will be returned within 24 hours of unloading. Details of the vessel and necessary processes, including emigration, will be finalized soon.
The arrival of the first ship is not merely experimental; it marks the commencement of port operations on July 12. The ship will carry containers bound for different states, streamlining the process of bringing goods to India without relying on other countries’ ports for unloading.
