Vizhinjam Seaport Fast-Tracks Expansion, Aims to Be India’s Biggest Transshipment Hub by 2028

Web Desk

Published on Jan 22, 2026, 06:06 PM | 4 min read

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister V Vasavan said that the Vizhinjam International Seaport, which has emerged as a major symbol of Kerala’s development, is rapidly advancing towards becoming India’s largest transshipment hub. The second phase of the port’s construction will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on January 24th at 4 pm, the minister announced.

The minister said the state government’s development-oriented interventions have enabled the entire Vizhinjam port project—originally scheduled for completion by 2045—to be realised by 2028. As per the Supplementary Concession Agreement signed with the concessionaire in 2023, the second, third, and fourth phases of development are being implemented together—17 years ahead of schedule.

Within just one year of commencing operations, Vizhinjam port has handled 15.13 lakh TEUs from 710 vessels. Direct shipping services to major ports across Europe, America, Africa, and Asia have also begun within a short period. The port has already emerged as a key node in global maritime trade and a strategic commercial gateway for South Asia, the minister said.

Vizhinjam, India’s first fully automated port, became operational with its Phase One (annual capacity of 1 million TEUs) on December 3, 2024. In Phase Two, the port’s capacity will increase from 1 million to 5 million TEUs. Berth length will be expanded from 800 metres to 2,000 metres, and the breakwater will be extended from 3 km to 4 km.

New facilities planned under Phase Two include a railway yard, multipurpose berth, liquid terminal, and tank farm. The total investment for Phase Two is estimated at 9,700 crore rupees. Once completed, Vizhinjam will be capable of both receiving and exporting containers, with container movement enabled via road transport as well. A cruise terminal will also be established, allowing large passenger vessels to dock—boosting tourism and economic growth in Kerala.

The liquid terminal planned in Phase Two will allow large ships to refuel during long-distance voyages—facilities currently available only at select major ports. This is expected to significantly enhance state tax revenues. Given Vizhinjam’s proximity to international shipping routes between Southeast Asia and Europe, the port is likely to attract more vessels for bunkering services.

An added advantage is that no additional land acquisition is required for Phase Two. Instead, 55 hectares of land will be reclaimed from the sea. With the expansion of the container yard, storage capacity will increase from 35,000 containers to 1 lakh containers. The total number of cranes will rise to 100, including 30 ship-to-shore cranes and 70 yard cranes.

The berth length will increase to 2 km, making Vizhinjam India’s largest straight-berth port, capable of accommodating four mother ships simultaneously. The breakwater length will be extended to 4 km. As more shipping and logistics companies set up operations, employment opportunities are expected to rise significantly.

Vizhinjam Port: Milestones

December 5, 2015 – Construction of Vizhinjam Port Phase One begins

October 15, 2023 – First vessel arrives: Chinese cargo ship Shen Hua 15A

July 12, 2024 – Trial operations commence

December 3, 2024 – Commercial operations officially begin

February 2025 – Vizhinjam ranks first among ports in South India, handling 78,833 TEUs from 40 vessels

May 2, 2025 – Vizhinjam International Seaport officially commissioned

June 9, 2025 – World’s largest container ship MSC Irina docks at Vizhinjam

August 2025 – Historic milestone: 1 million containers handled within nine months

September 23, 2025 – 500th vessel arrives within ten months of commercial operations

MSC Verona, the deepest-draft vessel (17.1 metres) ever to dock in India, berths at Vizhinjam

October 19, 2025 – Ship-to-ship bunkering service launched