As part of limited scale operations, a third mothership of MSC Shipping – MSC Orion called at Vizhinjam international seaport carrying 15000 teus. This is also the third mothership owned by the MSC that called at the port after the successful berthing of MSC Deila and MSC Adu V. Previously, a mothership San Fernando, chartered by Maersk had also called at the port. The chances of MSC becoming the anchor customer for Vizhinjam international seaport are bright. The seaport is scheduled to begin the full-fledged commercial operations by December 2024.
If the shipping line agrees to make Vizhinjam as one of the hubs, the first phase target of meeting of one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) container handling will not be a big deal for the port, which is designed to reduce the transshipping dependence of the country on Colombo port.
It is also learnt that MSC is also analysing the operations of the port, which is equally important for the port developer as well as shipping lines. A potential agreement in this regard between shipping lines and port authorities can be reached before the commissioning of the port, said sources. Meanwhile, the MSC Orion, which sailed into the port from Brazil, will undertake around 3,000 container movements here before moving to another destination. MSC Adu V also left for Cochin Port after discharging around 2,000 containers here and loading back around 1,000 containers from here.
