The Vizhinjam International Transshipment Seaport is a deep-water, multi-purpose, and automated port located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and is India's first dedicated container transshipment hub. Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model between the Government of Kerala and Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), the project was initiated in 2015 and formally inaugurated on May 2, 2025. The port was created to solve the problem of India's reliance on foreign ports, such as Colombo, which previously handled 68% of the country's transshipped cargo, leading to increased costs and delays.
The port's mechanism leverages its strategic location just 10 to 20 nautical miles from the international East-West shipping route (Suez-to-Singapore route). It boasts a natural depth of up to 24 meters, allowing it to accommodate Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS) or "megamax" vessels exceeding 24,000 TEU without extensive dredging. The port is equipped with automated systems and STS Super Post-Panamax cranes to ensure quick vessel turnaround. It is connected to national logistics networks via a 1.7 km, 4-lane access road to NH-66 and an 11 km railway line with a 9 km tunnel to Balaramapuram. The port is a key component of India's Maritime Vision 2047 and competes directly with international hubs like Jebel Ali and Singapore Port.
A significant recent change occurred in July 2026 when the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notified the facility as a customs port. This amendment transformed the port from an exclusive transshipment hub to a full-fledged international gateway by allowing gateway Export-Import (EXIM) cargo operations to commence from August 18, 2026. Initial EXIM operations are restricted to Full Container Load (FCL) under the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) and Direct Port Entry (DPE) systems, as a designated Container Freight Station (CFS) is not yet operational.