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Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Very large vessel MSC Irina docks at Vizhinjam int'l port
T'puram: One of the biggest container ships, MSC Irina, docked at Vizhinjam international port on Monday. Departing from Singapore, it reached the outer sea of the port on June 3 and docked on Monday morning. This is the first time the ship arrived at a south Asian port, said a press release. The ship has a capacity of 24,346 containers and measures 399.9m in length and 61.3m in width. VISL MD Divya S Iyer officially welcomed the captain and crew aboard the ship. The ship is a crucial maritime service on the Asia-Europe trade route. tnn
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
MSC Irina docking is milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as key player in global transshipment: Karan Adani
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 9 (ANI): The docking of world's largest container ship, MSC Irina, at Vizhinjam International Seaport is a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transhipment, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ, Karan Adani, said on Monday. 'Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port. This marks the vessel's maiden visit to South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transshipment. A bold vision now in motion,' Karan Adani said in a post on X. The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, docked at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning and will be berthed till Tuesday. According to an Adani Group press release, this monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximately four times longer than a standard FIFA-designated football field. Designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of large volumes of containers between Asia and Europe, the MSC IRINA is pivotal in enhancing trade routes and logistics efficiency. This vessel makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port, highlighting Vizhinjam's capabilities in handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). The port has recently welcomed other Icon-class vessels, including MSC Turkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini, further establishing its reputation as a key hub in maritime trade. The MSC IRINA was launched in March 2023 and embarked on its maiden voyage in April of the same year. It is engineered to stack containers up to 26 tiers high, offering unparalleled capacity in container stacking. Notably, the MSC IRINA surpasses its predecessor, OOCL Spain, by a margin of 150 TEUs. In alignment with contemporary environmental standards, the vessel is equipped with energy-saving features that contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 4 per cent, significantly lowering its carbon footprint while maintaining operational efficiency. (ANI)
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
How Rajiv Gandhi's Visit Turned Vizhinjam From A Fishing Village To Deepwater Port
A popular phrase in India, 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari', has become a transformational reality. Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Jammu & Kashmir's Vande Bharat train and inaugurated the world's highest rail bridge over Chenab, today, in Kerala, 75 km from Kanyakumari, the Vizhinjam deepwater seaport received the world's biggest container vessel, MSC Irina. Projects in India have long gestation periods. The Kashmir rail link had been envisaged by the British. The planning for it began in 1983-84 and has finally taken shape now. Similarly, the idea for a deepwater sea port in Vizhinjam germinated in the days of the Travancore State in the British era. It was revived during a visit by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - who incidentally had gone there to inaugurate houses for fishermen - in 1985. Veteran Congress Chief Minister Karunakaran pushed the project in 1991. Further thrust came during the regime of Oomen Chandy of the Congress, in whose tenure the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd was started in December 2015. The completion took place under CPI(M) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in May 2025. A Rocky Journey The project weathered several political storms, including stiff opposition from the Sonia-Rahul Gandhi family, who were opposed to the choice of the Adani group by the Kerala government (headed by Congress leader Oomen Chandy) for implementing the project on the DBFOT (Develop, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) model. Regimes changed in Thiruvananthapuram, with both CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opting for the Adani group, though both sides at several points had a slugfest over the project as well. Work began in 2015, and in May 2025, PM Modi inaugurated this prestigious project of the Kerala government. This writer had accompanied Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on some of his trips across the country and was present when he visited Vizhinjam on September 6, 1985, on what was the second day of his three-day sojourn to Kerala. The visit was to study the implementation of various welfare schemes. We reached Vizhinjam in the twilight hours. It was a sleepy fishing village that traced its history to the second century BCE, a fact well-known today thanks to the discovery of pottery finds by archaeologists. Vizhinjam apparently had been part of the Indian Ocean trade route in ancient times. 'Something Is Fishy' The reason for Mr. Gandhi's visit was to review a housing project for fishermen. Rows of newly constructed houses were being shown to him. He noticed that the houses were unoccupied. On enquiry, it emerged that tensions within the fishermen community, which comprised people belonging to Muslim and Latin Christian communities, had spilt over from fishing rights to allotment of houses. Mr. Gandhi was furious. ' Kuchh to gadbad hai '(something is fishy), he muttered. Chief Minister Karunakaran, who was also the minister for fisheries, gestured to an official, who said the allottees had not moved in. The Prime Minister told former Chief Minister A.K. Anthony, who was accompanying him in his capacity as party general secretary, 'Anthony, can you locate an allottee in the crowd? I want to talk to him.' The bluff had been called. The incident was televised on Doordarshan that evening. While Mr Gandhi was infuriated, an unexpected advantage of the visit was a discussion on the history and potential of Vizhinjam. The ball was set rolling. Why Vizhinjam Is Important Vizhinjam, though a project of the Kerala government, is a port of national significance. It is the only transhipment terminal in the Indian subcontinent. Being the pioneer deepwater transportation hub, it contributes to revolutionising India's blue economy. The port has a natural depth of 20 metres and is located strategically within 10 nautical miles off the international shipping lane. Before the commissioning of Vizhinjam, India had no deepwater port, and it had to depend on ports abroad, primarily Colombo (Sri Lanka), to dock Ultra-Large Container Vessels (UCLVs); cargo containers were transported to smaller vessels and shipped to Indian ports. Before Vizhinjam, India thus had to forgo an estimated revenue of about $220 million (approximately Rs 1,990 crore) annually due to this transhipment. The natural depth of 20 metres also ensures that Vizhinjam will not have to spend on seasonal dredging. This, too, will contribute to the health of the blue economy. A New Era In India's Blue Economy With the docking of MSC Irina, which coincides with the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 regime, a new era is being ushered into India's blue economy. MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company, a Swiss-based container shipping giant) Irina is the biggest container vessel and can carry more than 24,300 standard 20-foot shipping containers stacked up to 22 decks. It measures 399.99 meters in length and 61.3 meters in beam. With the docking of Irinam, Vizhinjam will be competing with international ports like Colombo, Salalah (Oman), Jebel Ali (Dubai-UAE), as well as Singapore. Vizhinjam's strategic location in the international shipping route connects Europe, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. It is proximate to the East-West shipping axis, which accounts for a substantial quantum of global maritime trade. While Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd., which is tasked with running the port, has developed its infrastructure, road and rail connectivity to the place, located 20 km from Thiruvananthapuram on National Highway 66, is still under development. Nonetheless, Vizhinjam will bring substantial savings as it removes India's dependency on ports abroad.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Karan Adani Welcomes MSC IRINA, World's Largest Container Ship At Vizhinjam
The MSC IRINA, the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, made an entry into India on Monday and docked at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. The ship, with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, will remain berthed at the port until Tuesday, June 10. Celebrating the arrival of the vessel, Karan Adani, the managing director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), wrote on X, "Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port. This marks the vessel's maiden visit to South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transhipment. A bold vision now in motion." Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port. This marks the vessel's maiden visit to South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global… — Karan Adani (@AdaniKaran) June 9, 2025 The arrival of MSC IRINA marks a major milestone for the Vizhinjam International Seaport. This is the first time a vessel of such scale has docked at an Indian port, signalling Vizhinjam's readiness to handle mega container traffic and underlining its strategic potential in global shipping routes. The ship's docking came a month after the port was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. Developed under a public-private partnership between Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and the Government of Kerala, the Rs 8,900-crore facility received its commercial clearance in December 2024 following a successful trial run. The inauguration ceremony in May was also attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. Prime Minister Modi then highlighted the port's strategic importance, saying, "It is designed to accommodate large cargo ships, addressing a critical need. Until now, 75% of India's transhipment activities were conducted at foreign ports, resulting in significant revenue losses for the country." The Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is built to handle large-scale container transhipment, as well as multi-purpose and break-bulk cargo, making it one of the most advanced maritime infrastructure projects in the region. The natural depth of the waters off Vizhinjam Port - ranging between 18 to 20 metres even up to a kilometre from the shore - makes it suitable for very large vessels, including massive tankers and mother ships. In May, the port welcomed Turkiye, the world's largest eco-friendly container ship operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, cementing Vizhinjam's position as a key deepwater hub on India's coastline.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MSC IRINA docks at Vizhinjam: World's largest container ship gets water salute; major boost for India's new deep water port
(Photo crredit: PTI) NEW DELHI: The world's largest container ship by capacity, MSC IRINA, docked at Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning. Its arrival marks a significant milestone for the newly inaugurated India's first deep water port, opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The vessel arrived at Vizhinjam port at 8 am and was welcomed with a traditional water salute. The ship will remain docked until Tuesday, according to port authorities. The massive MSC IRINA, with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), reflects the growing scale of global trade and India's rising role in international commerce, according to news agency PTI. Measuring 399.9 metres in length and 61.3 metres in width, the ship is nearly four times longer than a standard FIFA football field, according to a port statement. Sharing a post on X, Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani ports and SEZ Ltd, said, "Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam port." "This marks the vessel's maiden visit to the South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transshipment. A bold vision now in motion," he added. The MSC IRINA, specifically constructed for transporting large container volumes between Asia and Europe, plays a crucial role in optimising trade routes and logistics efficiency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Built with eco-friendly technology, the ship includes energy-saving systems that reduce carbon emissions by up to 4%, helping lower its environmental impact without compromising efficiency. Its arrival at Vizhinjam International Seaport highlights the port's growing global significance and marks a step forward in promoting greener shipping practices, the release noted. This inaugural visit to a South Asian port showcases Vizhinjam's ability to accommodate Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). The port has recently serviced other Icon-class vessels, including MSC Turkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini, strengthening its position in maritime commerce. The MSC IRINA began operations in March 2023, with its first journey commencing in April 2023. The vessel can stack containers 26 tiers high, providing exceptional storage capacity. The MSC IRINA, now the world's largest container ship, is 150 TEUs larger than the previous record-holder, OOCL Spain. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
