Vizhinjam seaport: deep draft, berth length and why it suits transshipment

Background

Why it matters now: Vizhinjam recently handled one of the highest-volume vessel calls at an Indian port, from the MSC Loreto (17,262 TEU exchanged).
The port was commissioned in December 2024 with an 800-metre berth, and has 8 quay cranes and 24 fully automated yard cranes.
Its natural draft of 18-20 metres and its position about 10 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route suit giant container ships.
Capacity is 1.6 million TEUs now, with 5.7 million TEUs planned by December 2028.
Phase two will extend the berth by 1,200 metres to 2,000 metres.