The Kerala Maritime Board has opened the Vizhinjam wharf to international cargo and cruise vessels, marking a key milestone in the phased operationalisation of the Vizhinjam port and expanding Kerala’s maritime footprint.
The move follows the notification of the wharf as a customs-enabled facility, allowing it to handle foreign-going vessels, including mid-sized cargo ships and cruise liners. Officials said the decision is aimed at improving regional connectivity, supporting tourism, and easing cargo movement along India’s southwest coast.
With international access now permitted, Vizhinjam is expected to attract cruise traffic, breakbulk cargo, and project shipments, complementing the container transshipment operations underway at the adjoining deep-water port. The wharf is strategically located close to major international shipping lanes, offering time and cost advantages for vessel calls.
State authorities said the development will help generate local employment, boost ancillary services such as bunkering and ship services, and strengthen Kerala’s role in coastal and international maritime trade. Cruise operators, in particular, are seen as a near-term opportunity, given Kerala’s growing popularity as a tourism destination.
The opening of the wharf adds momentum to Vizhinjam’s broader development plan, as policymakers position the port as a multipurpose maritime hub capable of handling containers, cargo, and passenger vessels, while gradually reducing India’s reliance on foreign transshipment ports.
