Weekly Exclusive Report from Trivandrum Port, Kerala - Issue #15
21 April - 27 April 2025
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New arrivals at TRV
MSC Celestino Maresca
Another massive vessel arrives this week as part of the regular schedule. The MSC Celestino Maresca, a Jade service vessel that has departed Singapore, is expected to arrive on the evening of the 29th. With dimensions of 399.9 metres in length and 61.53 metres in width, the Celestino follows the customary route through Ningbo and Shanghai in China, then Singapore, before calling at TRV. She is currently sailing at a draft of 14.9 metres.
Boat Blessing
The name initially suggested a fishing vessel typical of Kerala's coast. Various vessels bearing names related to "Prayer", "Blessing" and similar terms have been observed in the region. However, the Boat Blessing that arrived recently from Mundra is actually a feeder vessel measuring 180 metres in length. This smaller ship operates in the Colombo-Abu Dhabi-Gulf sector.
Bridge
Another new arrival this week from Colombo is the ‘Bridge’. Unusually, this vessel shares its name with a crucial operational area of ships. Part of the Arabian Sea Shuttle service, this feeder vessel is making its maiden call at TRV. Its route includes Mundra, Khalifa, Al Jubail and Colombo before reaching Trivandrum.
Assam Chief Minister commends MotherPort News
The Assam Chief Minister has acknowledged MotherPort News' recommendations regarding the Bangladesh situation.
Recent days have witnessed escalating tensions on both India's western and eastern borders. While the Pahalgar massacre unfolded on the western front, Bangladesh had already created unrest along India's eastern flank.
Bangladesh initiated hostilities by asserting exclusive custodianship of India's eastern waters. The country grandiosely claimed that India's "seven sisters" (northeastern states) are landlocked with no connectivity except through Bangladesh's maritime territory. MotherPort News responded by emailing the Assam Chief Minister, highlighting the factual situation—that Bangladesh was still utilising Trivandrum Port's transshipment facilities despite its rhetoric.
Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma, Assam's Chief Minister, promptly replied within weeks, commending MotherPort News' position on the matter. (See the reply here)
When the initial email was sent to the Assam Chief Minister on April 2nd, 2025, there were 17 services operating between TRV and Chittagong. This has since increased to 20, as evidenced by:
- April 8th, 2025: MSC Eyra II from TRV to Chittagong
- April 16th, 2025: MSC Riona from TRV to Chittagong
- April 20th, 2025: MSC Chaewon from Chittagong to TRV
It would be prudent for the self-proclaimed "custodian of the sea" to reconsider whether it is India that depends more on Bangladesh, or vice versa.
Indian crew showcases Kerala maritime heritage at TRV
We rarely learn much about the crews of vessels calling at Trivandrum Port. Perhaps due to the higher presence of Keralites, more information became available about the crew of the Safeen Pioneer, which berthed here recently.
The vessel's Kerala contingent included Sreenath Thekkeppattu and Abi Basheer Kariparambil from Chalakudy, Ninoy Preman from Kannur, Tittu Antony and Manuel Joseph from Kochi, Fasil Pallivayal from Wayanad, and Sabin Kannampathi from Kanjangad. Notably, all other crew members were also Indian nationals.
The Safeen Pioneer berthed as part of the commencement of operations by Abu Dhabi-based Safeen Feeders, joining operators such as Maersk, MSC, Express Feeders and Tehama at TRV. Arriving from Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, the vessel remained at berth for approximately 20 hours, during which it discharged 602 units and loaded 260 units.
Jayaprakash Naiken, branch head of MBK Logistix, Safeen Feeders' agents, presented gifts to Captain Mohammed Syed Ibrahim Abdul Salam, a Tamil Nadu native, and other crew members. The Safeen Pioneer is also the first vessel handled by MBK Logistix at TRV. Following its 20-hour operation, the vessel departed for Colombo, from where it will continue to Abu Dhabi.
Safeen Feeders' next vessel, the Boat Blessing, has already reached TRV's anchorage. In anticipation of such regular services, MBK had already established an office in the capital city.
TRV now hosts five shipping operators
Even before its official commissioning, five shipping companies are now utilising Trivandrum Port. While the San Fernando, which first called on July 11th, 2024, was a Maersk vessel, ships from four additional companies have since arrived at TRV. The operating companies now include Maersk, MSC, XPress Feeders, Tehama Shipping and Safeen Feeders. Of these, the latter three companies have primarily handled MSC containers. More shipping lines are expected once gateway cargo operations commence.
Poetic justice as tables turn
A recent vessel journey brought to mind an old tale of betrayal. A certain port (name deliberately withheld) that deployed numerous tactics to prevent Trivandrum Port's development, striving to delay it by at least two decades, has now experienced an ironic development.
For the first time, a feeder vessel from Trivandrum Port has called at this rival port, which itself has never sent to or called a mother vessel from TRV. During the promotional campaigns for Trivandrum Port, this potential scenario had been predicted—that with TRV's establishment, cargo would flow there and then be transported to the rival port via feeder vessels. This prediction has now materialised, representing a poetic justice delivered by time and tide.
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