Context: The under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport receives its first ship. The Hong Kong-flagged vessel that had set sail from a port in Shanghai, China, became the first vessel to dock at Vizhijam Seaport, India's deepest harbour when it brought in three cranes.

About Vizhinjam Port 

• It will be country’s first deepwater container transshipment terminal.

• It is a Rs 7,525 crore port, being built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with Adani Ports Private Limited at Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala set to be completed in 2024.

• Vizhinjam is an all-weather port that lies south of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Vizhinjam International Deep Water Multipurpose Seaport is a Greenfield port.

• It is known as the ‘Port of the Future.’

• It was laid in December 2015 and has since missed its completion deadline.

• The port is to have 30 berths, and will be able to handle giant “megamax” container ships.

Significance

• It is believed that the ultramodern port, located close to major international shipping routes, will boost India’s economy and its location is also of strategic importance.

• The State government has made extensive preparations to receive the first ship at the Vizhinjam port, which is Kerala's proudest project.

• Proximity to international shipping routes connecting Europe, the Gulf and East Asia.

• Located on minimal littoral drift resulting in limited maintenance dredging.

• Ideal location for fuel bunkering.

• The port is expected to compete with Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai for a share of trans-shipment traffic.

• The port’s advantages are “availability of a 20m contour within one nautical mile from the coast, minimal littoral drift along the coast, hardly any maintenance dredging required, links to national/regional road, rail network, and proximity to international shipping routes.

• Since the ultramodern port is located close to major international shipping routes, it will boost India’s economy. It also satisfies the physical and hydrographical parameters of modern seaports.