Vizhinjam Port in India, which was conceived 30 years ago, is reportedly projected to be commissioned in October 2023.
With work progressing in full swing, the port is said to become the country’s first mother port and will be unveiled in Vizhinjam, located in the Indian state of Kerala, next year, reported the Hindustan Times.
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At a natural depth of 20m, the port will be located 12 nautical miles away from the international ship channel.
Presently, India depends on Colombo, Singapore and Dubai mother ports for transhipment of heavy cargo.
Upon completion, the new port is expected to reduce the cost and time of shipments.
A port official told the Indian publication: “Once it is fully functional, the largest mother ship of the world can be anchored here easily.”
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By GlobalDataHe added that the port will be able to berth five mother vessels simultaneously.
Adani Vizhinjam Port Limited CEO Rajesh Jha was quoted as saying: “It will be a milestone in the maritime history of the country. The country will save crores of rupees in foreign exchange. And, it will be cost-effective and time-efficient for both importers and exporters. We are at the gateway to the dream.”
Due to minimum littoral movement along the coast, the Vizhinjam port will require less dredging.
Under the project, a cruise terminal, modern fishing harbour and maritime cluster form will also be established.
In 2015, Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited signed an agreement with the Kerala State Government to build and maintain the port for four decades.
The Adani group, under the private public partnership pact, will design, build, finance, run and transfer the project at a value of $1bn (Rs75.25bn).
The project, which was anticipated to be finished by 2019, got delayed due to cyclone Ockhi in 2017 and Cyclone Tauktae last year.
Last September, Adani Group entered into a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement for the Western Container Terminal of the Port of Colombo.
