MSC has significantly increased its shuttle and regional services out of Vizhinjam Port in southern India, positioning the port as a key player in container transhipment. According to industry data, MSC currently operates up to 20 services per week to support mother-vessel calls, highlighting the port's strategic importance.
These services connect Vizhinjam with key ports such as Chittagong in Bangladesh, Djibouti in East Africa, and India’s east coast ports, particularly Kolkata. While MSC remains the primary carrier for cargo flows out of Vizhinjam, other feeder lines are also showing interest in the hub. For instance, Middle East-based Global Feeder Shipping (GFS) has recently started offering capacity for regional transhipment, including routes to Colombo in Sri Lanka and Khalifa in Abu Dhabi.
MSC operates two regular mainline services out of Vizhinjam: the Dragon and Jade services, which cover Asia-North Europe/Mediterranean trades. Since commencing commercial operations in late 2024, the Adani Group-managed Vizhinjam Terminal has handled over 330 vessel visits, accounting for more than 700,000 TEUs. Last month, the port achieved a new high with 114,000 TEUs, making it the busiest container handler along India’s east coast.
Vizhinjam’s deep natural alongside depth makes it capable of accommodating ultra-large vessels. This capability was recently demonstrated with the arrival of MSC Irina, one of MSC’s largest containerships with a capacity of 24,000 TEUs, on the Jade Service. The port authority stated, “This ultra-large vessel reaffirms Vizhinjam’s readiness to handle the giants of global trade.”
Despite the recent headlines due to the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 nearby, Vizhinjam continues to attract significant industry attention. Salvage operations and investigations are ongoing, but the port’s rapid transhipment demand expansion remains a focal point.
MSC is reportedly considering a larger role for Vizhinjam in its transhipment operations out of Asia, in addition to using Colombo and King Abdullah ports. The carrier recently announced that all shipments from the Far East, South-east Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as India and Pakistan, will tranship via Colombo or Vizhinjam. This move is expected to improve cargo flow and schedule reliability while offering global connectivity through the MSC network to customers in Djibouti and Ethiopia.
Vizhinjam’s strategic location near the main east-west shipping axis and its deep natural harbour are key attractions. MSC’s increased focus on Vizhinjam may also be driven by capacity pressures at Mundra Port, where its 50:50 joint venture with Adani Ports has seen container volumes rise 14% year on year to 8.4 million TEUs in the fiscal year 2024-25.