Thiruvananthapuram: The first container ship ‘San Fernando’ arrived at the outer sea ahead of docking at Vizhinjam on Thursday. The Marshall Islands-flagged container ship ‘San Fernando’, owned by SFL Corporation Ltd. and chartered by Maersk (AP Moller Group), Denmark, is managed and operated by Bernhard Schulte Ship Management, Singapore (BSM). The vessel will offload 1,930 containers at the Vizhinjam port on Thursday. Adani Port pilots boarded the ship this morning.
Photo: Kerala Minister for Ports V N Vasavan visits International Seaport at Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo Courtesy: PTI
The vessel was welcomed with a water salute, led by the large tug Ocean Prestige and smaller tugs Dolphin Series 27, 28, and 35. The container ship will begin offloading its containers soon after berthing. Following the inaugural ceremony on Friday, July 12, the ship will depart for Colombo.
The trial operation of Kerala’s dream project, Vizhinjam Port, has commenced with the arrival of a container ship. Equipped with modern equipment, advanced automation, and IT systems, Vizhinjam will become India’s first semi-automated port, expected to be fully commissioned in October 2024.