Weekly Exclusive Report from Trivandrum Port, Kerala - Issue #16
28 April - 04 May 2025
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All indian transhipment cargo will come to TRV within a year - Karan Adani
Substantial changes and growth can be expected at Trivandrum Port (TRV) within a year, according to Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone. "Give us a year, you will see all Indian ships getting transshipped from here," he stated during a media briefing following the Prime Minister's commissioning of Trivandrum Port.
"Currently 75 per cent of India's transshipment cargo is handled at ports outside India and Indian ports lose up to $200-220 million of potential revenue each year on transshipment handling of cargo originating/destined for India," Mr Adani noted. He expressed confidence that efforts to redirect this cargo to Trivandrum Port could be completed within a year, thereby providing beneficial service to India's export-import community.
"Our ultimate goal is to reduce logistic cost by 30 per cent by increasing efficiency and reducing turn-around time," he added. If such cost reductions for shipping companies were transferred to the export-import community, this would significantly relieve Indian trade and help Indian products become more competitive internationally.
Credit for port belongs to the people - Kerala Chief Minister
An unnecessary political dispute over the parentage of Trivandrum Port occasionally resurfaces. Fulfilling fundamental responsibilities while in power is merely the duty of any administrator. The commencement of Trivandrum Port operations was simply part of that obligation. Kerala's Chief Minister clarified unambiguously that, if anyone could claim ownership of Trivandrum Port, it would be the region's people.
"The credit for the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Sea Port belonged to the people of the State. There is no need to argue over it," he stated (Times of India, 1 May 2025). He further discussed the long-standing public movements supporting the Motherport project, emphasising that successive governments have fulfilled nothing beyond their administrative responsibility.
"It is not an initiative of the LDF Governments in 2016 and 2021 or the UDF Government before that. It is the realisation of decades-long demand," he continued. This indeed reflects the truth: the decision by the 2015 government to commence the project came only after recognising that public sentiment was mounting against the government, following three-and-a-half decades of persistent demands and various forms of pressure from the people. Trivandrum Port was never the brainchild of any government or political leader.
Questionable claims in Government advertisements
A central government newspaper advertisement concerning Trivandrum Port's inauguration has come to attention, raising numerous questions about its claims. One headline in the advertisement proclaimed: "India's first deep water container transshipment Port." If this is how the central government currently describes Trivandrum Port, who denied the country a transshipment port during the 75 years since independence? Does this not implicate even the current Prime Minister and predecessors?
The advertisement essentially admits collective culpability among all past Prime Ministers, Shipping and Port Ministers, and secretary-level officials. Is this merely another government advertisement to be flipped past? The 75-year delay has not only denied India a transshipment port but has also pushed backward a country that should have gained maritime prominence, depriving Indian citizens of an entire marine culture.
Just as Omar Abdullah openly acknowledged failure as Chief Minister following the Pahalgam attack, are there not many in this country who should similarly admit fault?
Another peculiar aspect of the advertisement concerns job creation: "Regional upliftment through the creation of 5,000 jobs for Kerala, providing an overall boost to local economy and livelihoods." If merely 5,000 jobs were the goal, it would have been better not to establish such a port. This figure reveals the advertisement writers' limited understanding of the maritime sector.
Examining employment data further, dividing America's 6.4 million jobs among 13 major ports reveals approximately 500,000 jobs created per port. The central government has granted a mere 5,000 jobs to India's first transshipment port, against this 500,000 benchmark. Those presenting such figures evidently know little about ports and ships. If 500,000 jobs could be created in American conditions, at least 1 million should be achievable in the Indian context, further enhanced by Trivandrum Port's geographical advantages.
None of the aforementioned 13 American ports are situated on the world's busiest international shipping route. They achieved growth solely through economic strength and purchasing power. Trivandrum Port is not merely India's sole transshipment port but, situated adjacent to an international shipping lane, can grow to handle transshipment for Indian Ocean Rim nations completely. Both central and Kerala governments must determine how large Trivandrum Port's economic contribution and employment potential should become. This requires individuals with deep maritime expertise at both the central and state government levels.
New vessels making maiden calls at TRV this week
Seven vessels are making their first calls at Trivandrum Port this week:
MSC Raya: The next vessel in the Jade service, the Raya arrives via Xiamen, Yantian and Singapore ports. Currently sailing at a 14.9-metre draft, the Raya measures 399.98 metres in length, 61.51 metres in width, with a capacity of 24,100 TEU. Arriving at TRV on May 7th, she will continue her journey to Valencia, Spain.
MSC Desiree: This Shikra service vessel arrives on the 9th, having called at Mundra and Karachi. Her capacity is 9,400 TEU.
Kumasi: Part of the Malabar Express service, the Kumasi arrives at TRV after calling at Vizag and Colombo. Currently sailing at a 9.2-metre draft, the vessel has a capacity of 2,207 TEU.
MSC Falcon III: A Colombo Gulf Shuttle service vessel, the Falcon III departed from Abu Dhabi and will reach TRV on the 7th.
MSC Martina: With a capacity of 3,398 TEU, the Martina operates as an extra vessel. She arrives at TRV after calling at Hambantota and Tuticorin. Her current sailing draft is 8.8 metres.
MSC Barbados: This extra category vessel departed from Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi. Sailing at a 12.3-metre draft, she will arrive at TRV on the 8th, subsequently proceeding to Hazira port.
MSC Michel Cappellini: This well-known giant in the African Express series arrives at TRV on the 9th, having called at Nansha (China), Vung Tau (Vietnam) and Singapore. Currently sailing at a 13.5-metre draft, the vessel measures 399.99 metres in length, 61 metres in width, with a capacity of 24,232 TEU. From TRV, she will continue to Tema port in Africa.
CHS Colombo: Part of the Colombo-Kolkata feeder service, this vessel departed from Kolkata and will arrive at TRV on the 5th.
Unique export opportunity
As Trivandrum Port's gates open, an opportunity arises for newsletter readers to utilise the port's facilities. At least two importers from foreign countries have approached the newsletter, expressing their wish to shift purchases from current source countries to India. They are primarily interested in household items, with one condition: products must be available at factory prices, lower than wholesale rates.
Newsletter subscribers can participate in this process. If they can provide factory prices for products within their knowledge and enquiry scope, and if these are acceptable to the importers, this could transform into a regular export business. Those providing such leads will receive a fixed percentage share for as long as the business continues. Factory owners can also directly sell their products through this channel. For further information, contact [email protected].
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