Vizhinjam Port Faces Operational Hurdles as It Gears Up
Vizhinjam Port, one of the key infrastructural developments along India’s western coastline, is facing significant operational hurdles despite its growing capacity. The Container Shipping Lines Association (India) (CSLA) has raised concerns over several operational constraints that have impeded the port’s ability to function efficiently, especially with regard to crew changes, customs clearance, and the lack of a crucial Immigration Check Post (ICP).
The absence of an ICP at Vizhinjam has emerged as a critical challenge, particularly for vessels with international crew members. The port’s inability to facilitate crew changes or provide necessary services, such as victualing, ship spares, bunkers, and supplies, is causing delays and operational bottlenecks. This deficiency has affected businesses tied to the port, with local enterprises missing out on lucrative opportunities that typically come with international shipping operations.
An issue of even greater concern is that vessels with Pakistani nationals on board are barred from calling at Vizhinjam. International vessels often have mixed-nationality crews, and even if only a single Pakistani crew member is aboard, the vessel is denied entry. This restriction forces shipping lines to cancel their calls at Vizhinjam, disrupting scheduling and affecting overall port efficiency. The CSLA has called on the Ministry of Shipping to address this gap by facilitating the establishment of an ICP at the port, a measure that would ease these operational burdens and allow vessels to call freely without restrictions.
Furthermore, each time a vessel docks at Vizhinjam, the shipping lines must initiate a tedious procedure with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), sending emails to request permission for the disembarkation of specific crew members for essential vessel-related tasks. These include draft checks and securing gangways, tasks that are critical for ensuring the safety and readiness of the ship. However, this administrative process sometimes leads to vessels being short of crew for vital tasks, creating risks and inefficiencies.
In addition, the process of obtaining vessel clearance has been cumbersome, as shipping lines must send photographs of all crew members to the FRRO office for approval, a requirement unique to Vizhinjam Port and not found in other Indian ports. This time-consuming process adds to delays, further hampering the port’s ability to operate smoothly.
The customs process has similarly posed challenges. Despite the port being operational for nearly eight months, the deployment of customs officers remains pending. Currently, the shipping lines are required to initiate customs clearance through the Thiruvananthapuram Customs Office manually, up to four days in advance. This is a particularly labour-intensive process, with Thiruvananthapuram Customs needing to send approval to Cochin Customs before any clearance can be granted. This inefficient manual procedure, which is unique to Vizhinjam, continues to cause delays and complicate operations at the port, affecting daily vessel arrivals.
Despite these operational hurdles, Vizhinjam Port has seen a marked increase in activity. The port has successfully attracted shipping lines transferring transshipment volumes from Colombo, resulting in around 180 vessel calls and the handling of approximately 400,000 TEUs since its launch. However, to maintain this growth trajectory and realise its full potential, the port urgently requires streamlined processes and infrastructure upgrades.
The CSLA has appealed to the Ministry of Shipping for swift intervention to address these challenges, especially the urgent need for an ICP at Vizhinjam. Facilitating this will not only improve the port’s operational efficiency but also promote economic growth by making it a more attractive destination for global shipping lines. As India continues to focus on boosting its maritime capabilities, it is essential that ports like Vizhinjam receive the necessary support to operate at full capacity, ensuring smooth logistics and increasing their competitiveness in the global market.
As Vizhinjam Port looks to overcome these challenges, the focus must remain on fostering a more business-friendly environment while maintaining rigorous safety and security standards. With the right infrastructure and policy changes in place, Vizhinjam can fulfil its promise of being a major hub for international trade.
