India is ramping up efforts to upgrade major ports and construct new deep-water terminals to attract transhipment traffic currently going through Colombo and Singapore. The government is focusing on deepening drafts at key ports like Kamarajar Port, Paradeep Port, and Deendayal Port to accommodate larger “mother vessels” by increasing draft depths from 14 meters to 18 meters. This move aims to address the historical oversight of not developing India’s major ports into international transhipment hubs capable of handling vessels carrying 14,000–24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The arrival of the MSC Irina at Vizhinjam Port on July 7 marks a significant milestone in correcting this deficiency. The report highlights the government’s commitment to rectifying past neglect with a comprehensive approach that matches the magnitude of the issue. Efforts include not only deepening drafts at major ports but also planning projects like Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, designed to become one of the world’s top ten container hubs with a natural draft near 20 meters.
Moreover, the report underscores the success of private initiatives like Mundra Port in Gujarat, which with a 17.5-meter draft, has demonstrated the capability to ship over 14,000 TEUs directly to the United States without relying on intermediary hubs. The ongoing initiatives reflect a concerted push by the government to enhance port infrastructure and enable the handling of Cape-size dry bulk vessels carrying around 2 lakh tonnes of cargo.
