Weekly Exclusive Report from Trivandrum Port, Kerala - Issue #06

17th February 2025 - 23rd February 2025

Trivandrum Port Ambulance?

The CMA CGM Verdi, whilst sailing towards Djibouti, suddenly altered its destination to INTRV (Trivandrum Port). The vessel was in the 9° Channel at 10:18 (19.2.25). By evening 18:34, the ship reached TRV anchorage to provide emergency medical care for Aadla Kameshwara Rao, an Indian sailor injured aboard. The ship departed anchorage at 21:21 after disembarking Rao. By then, they were already 11 hours behind their sailing schedule. Additionally, they needed another eight hours to return to their deviation point, totalling a 19-hour delay. For a 5,000-plus TEU vessel, the daily charter could amount to roughly $15,000, not to mention other losses incurred from schedule disruption.
Why not consider a more proactive approach? For India, the primary overseer of the 9° Channel—where 80-100 vessels pass hourly—establishing basic medical facilities would be an invaluable service to the global maritime community. The concept of a "Trivandrum Port Ambulance" in God's Own Country would be warmly embraced by the international maritime fraternity. It presents a unique opportunity for India to provide essential medical services along the 3,500 nautical miles between Singapore and the Red Sea.

TRV saves 14 days!

Of the 180 vessels that have called at Trivandrum Port to date, six belonged to Maersk. The most recent arrival was Maersk Sirac. Departing from Baltimore Port, USA, on 27th January, she arrived directly at TRV on 21st February—a 26-day journey. This might be the first instance of a vessel from America reaching an Indian port directly in such a brief period.
In contrast, vessels departing from Chennai and Kochi took 39 and 42 days respectively to reach New York Port—averaging 14 days longer than via Trivandrum Port. This fortnight's delay stems from the Colombo journey from Kochi, circumnavigation of Sri Lanka from Chennai, and subsequent transhipment. Is it not remarkable that Trivandrum Port can save the EXIM community a fortnight in one stroke? Beyond time savings, proportional reductions in shipping costs can be anticipated.

Shouldn't We Join Their Celebration?

On 18th February, South Carolina state celebrated the record broken by Charleston Port, with media outlets trumpeting: "Port of Charleston sets new record for largest TEU container ship". The OOCL Iris, with a capacity of 16,868 TEU, became their largest vessel caller, surpassing the previous record-holder CMA CGM Marco Polo (16,020 TEU) from May 2021.
South Carolina Port proudly states: "SC Ports has the deepest harbour on the US East Coast at 52 feet. This critical depth allows mega container ships to access the Port of Charleston at any time regardless of tides, enabling customers to quickly drop and pick up cargo."
Shouldn't it make us reflect that American East Coast ports' maximum depth is 16 metres? Who will answer for overlooking Trivandrum Port, with its 20-metre depth, for so long? Months ago, without any fanfare, the 24,116 TEU Claude Girardet called at Trivandrum Port. From early March, vessels in the 24,000 TEU range, including the MSC Jade service, will make weekly calls. Isn't it time we started our own modest celebrations?

MSC Mia Confirms March 4th Call

MSC Mia, the first vessel of the MSC Jade service and a 399.9-metre vessel with a capacity of 23,000 TEU, will call at Trivandrum Port on March 4th. The weekly Jade service connects Trivandrum with major Far East ports before heading to Europe. MSC Mia's 16.5-metre draft will be comfortably handled by Trivandrum's 20-metre natural depth, paving the way for regular mega vessel calls at the port.

Trivandrum Port Planned Arrivals

24.Feb.25 to 02.Mar.25 - 22 vessels

TRV Connect - New Routes

MSC Tia, Dar Es Salaam to TRV, 8 days
MSC Quitterie, TRV to Port Klang, Malaysia, 6 days
Maersk Sirac, Baltimore, US to TRV, 26 days

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