India's first automated port has begun operations by welcoming its Maersk’s container vessel, the 300-metre-long San Fernando.

The San Fernando, which has a capacity of 8,000-9,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), offloaded about 2,000 containers and reorganised 400 containers within the vessel during its stop.

"San Fernando … is a symbol of a new, glorious achievement in Indian maritime history,” says Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ) managing director Karan Adani. 

“It is a messenger that will tell the world that India's first transshipment terminal and the largest deepwater port has begun commercial operations."

Adani says the Vizhinjam port is equipped with South Asia’s most advanced container handling technology.

“Once we complete the automation and the Vessel Traffic Management System, Vizhinjam will be in a class of its own as one of the most technologically sophisticated transshipment ports in the world."

Currently, 25% of India's container traffic is transshipped en route to the destination. Until now, despite India's rising trade with the world, the country did not have a dedicated transshipment port, resulting in three-fourths or 75% of India's transshipped cargo being handled by ports outside India.

Adani says Vizhinjam will not only facilitate the movement of transshipment traffic into India but will also play a pivotal role in handling traffic along major routes connecting India, such as traffic between the US, Europe Africa, and the Indian subcontinent as well as US, Europe, Africa and the Far East.