The first containership arriving at the Vizhinjam International Port will be greeted with a water salute. The huge mother ship San Fernando that will anchor at Vizhinjam on the night of the 10th will be brought to the harbour berth between 9 am and 10 am on the 11th after completing the mooring. The Chief Minister and Union Ministers will attend the reception on the 12th. Led by the large tug Ocean Prestige, docked in the harbour, the smaller tugs Dolphin Series 27, 28 and 35 will give water salutes.
Officials said that the berthing would be completed on the 11th and the unloading of the containers would be done on the same day. Two more ships will arrive at Vizhinjam on the 12th, the official reception day. This is to transport the containers from the first ship to the various ports of the country. It is reported that two feeder ships Marine Azur and Seaspan Santos are arriving. 10 minutes is sufficient for unloading a container through the automated system. The Minister of Ports has called a press conference tomorrow to detail the steps taken including receiving the vessel.