The Vizhinjam International Seaport is expected to play a pivotal role in boosting India’s maritime trade and strengthening its position as a global maritime hub

Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram : Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram received six more Yard Cranes on Monday 27 November 2023, marking a significant milestone in the port’s development. The cranes arrived on board Zhen Hua 24 with 32 Chinese Crew members. This is the third ship to call at the port.

The Yard Cranes are cantilever rail-mounted gantry (CRMG) cranes, designed for the swift, secure, and automated handling of containers. They are used for container movement in yards, playing a crucial role in the port’s operations.

The unloading of the cranes will be carried out out for two consecutive days 29 and 30 November 2023, with the involvement of around 50 employees. The process utilized portable cranes and rails. No routine works will be disrupted, and all safety measures will be strictly adhered to. The installation of the cranes is expected to take approximately one week. While the test operations will begin once the installation is completed that is from next week.

This latest delivery follows the arrival of two CRMG cranes on Zhen Hua 15, the first vessel to call at the port in the second week of October 2023, and India’s largest Ship-to-Shore (STS) crane on Zhen Hua 29, which arrived on 13 November 2023.

With the current installation, the port now has two each of STS and Yard Cranes. The port has placed an order for a total of 24 CRMG cranes with M/s. Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Company Limited (ZPMC), and 11 of these cranes are expected to be delivered in the first phase.

These STS and Yard Cranes are crucial for achieving the port’s handling target capacity of one million (twenty-foot equivalent units) TEUs in the first phase, with the potential for expansion to 6.2 million TEUs.

Despite facing challenges, including petitions filed by individuals and organizations and the pressure of completing the first phase on time, the Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport remains an ambitious project undertaken by the Government of Kerala.

Designed primarily for transshipment and gateway container business, the port also includes a provision for a cruise terminal, liquid bulk berth, and facilities for additional terminals. The port is currently being developed under a Public Private Partnership with Adani Ports Private Limited on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (“DBFOT”) basis.

The arrival of these six Yard Cranes marks a significant step forward in the development of Vizhinjam International Seaport, positioning it for future growth and prosperity. The port is expected to play a pivotal role in boosting India’s maritime trade and strengthening its position as a global maritime hub.