New Delhi: Vizhinjam International Seaport, part of the Adani Group, has crossed the major milestone mark of handling over 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in less than nine months of starting its operations.

At a ceremony marking the achievement, Kerala’s Minister of Ports, V N Vasavan, celebrated this achievement and hailed it as a “proud moment for Kerala and India as an emerging maritime power,” announcing that the second phase of the project that includes railways and road connectivity would soon become functional.

The deep seaport, which was launched on December 3, 2024, has already handled over 460 vessels, which includes 26 ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs). The ULCVs are vessels that are close to 400 meters in length. The port was originally expected to handle only 30 percent of the total capacity in its first year. However, it has surpassed projections, achieving the full-scale output in record time.

The news came when the MSC Paloma witnessed the recorded exchange of 10576 TEUs at the port—an all-time high for India. This feat came only because of the special operational expertise of APSEZs (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone’s) along with the sustainable infrastructure of the port.

Vizhingam port has got some unique advantages attached to it. It is strategically located near the major east-west shipping route, which reduces the time and costs for vessels. Its natural draft of 18.5 meters allows the largest ULCVs to dock without dredging, a rarity among global deep-water ports.

Industry experts say the port is reshaping regional trade flows and strategically positioning India as a major transit hub in cargo shipping. The port offers direct connectivity to the US, Europe, Africa, and the Far East, which significantly reduces the reliance on major hubs like Colombo and Singapore. They further added that once the EXIM (export-import) operations fully commence at the port, it will become the southern gateway for global trade.