Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially welcomed the Chinese cargo vessel ‘San Fernando’ at the newly inaugurated Vizhinjam international sea port on Friday. The ship had berthed at the port a day earlier, marking a significant milestone for the state’s maritime infrastructure.

The welcoming ceremony took place in the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, and state Ports Minister V N Vasavan. Other cabinet members, including K N Balagopal, V Sivankutty, K Rajan, and G R Anil, along with UDF MLA M Vincent and APSEZ Managing Director Karan Adani, were also in attendance.

The Vizhinjam port is being developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), India’s largest port developer and part of the Adani Group. The port is expected to enhance Kerala’s trade capabilities and strengthen its position as a key player in the shipping and logistics sectors.

During the ceremony, CM Vijayan highlighted the importance of the port for the economic development of the region and its potential to create job opportunities. He expressed optimism that the Vizhinjam port would facilitate increased cargo traffic and boost the local economy.

The arrival of ‘San Fernando’ is seen as a pivotal moment for the port, signaling its readiness for international shipping operations. The state government aims to capitalize on the port’s strategic location to enhance trade and attract more shipping lines in the future.