Picture : ANI / X
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan welcomed the first mothership “San Fernando ” at the Vizhinjam International Seaport . Welcoming the ship, the CM highlighted that now India had entered the global map through Vizhinjam port and called it a proud moment for India.
“India enters into the global map through Vizhinjam. It is a huge port among world ports. The biggest ships in the world can berth in Vizhinjam. The operation is starting through a trial run. And will start completely functioning soon. This is becoming the mother port and it is a proud moment” said CM Vijayan in a report by ANI .
He also added “Now the first phase is completing. Phase two to Phase four were scheduled to be completed by 2045. But it will be completed fully by 2028,17 years’ advance”.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal also attended the event as the chief guest Adani Ports MD Karan Adani was also present during the welcome ceremony by Kerala CM. The ship reached at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Thursday.
The first container ship ‘San Fernando’ owned by SFL Corporation Ltd and chartered by Maersk- (AP Moller Group), Denmark, reached the outer area of the port around 7 am on Thursday and berthed at the port by 9:50 am. It was welcomed with a water salute. The San Fernando, carrying over 1,000 containers, is anchored at the port as part of a trial run ahead of the commencement of commercial operations. This is a trial run and it will continue for two months. The commissioning of the seaport is expected by October.
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal also said this port will be a remarkable one in the economic growth of the country. He also attended the meeting of stakeholders on Thursday at Vizhinjam lighthouse.
Vizhinjam seaport is very close to the famous Kovalam beach. It has water connectivity to many regional and international ports. This is the first transhipment port in the country. Till now India was dependent on Colombo, Dubai and Singapore ports for transhipment. Now Vizhinjam International Seaport will be the transhipment port of the country.
