Jubilation engulfs Vizhinjam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a historic moment that took three decades to turn to fruition, the mother ship with 2000 containers touched the berth, ringing bells of development in Vizhinjam on Thursday.

Vizhinjam saw jubilation as mothership San Fernando docked at the port on Thursday amidst thousands of viewers. The authorities gave a water salute to the ship, while locals celebrated by bursting firecrackers and pouring sweets. The priest performed aarti at Azhimala temple for auspiciousness.

San Fernando left Xiamen, China on July 1 and reached the Vizhinjam offshore on July 11 at 4 am. Around seven o'clock, pilot Tushar Kanitkar reached the ship in the tugboat 'Ocean Prestige' and took control from captain Vladimir Bondarenko. Pilots Tushar, Captain CB George and Nirmal Zakaria brought the mother ship to the berth at 9:30 am. All of them are pilots working at various ports managed by Adani.

The berthing process started with the green flag waved by Minister V N Vasavan. The mooring started at 9:40 a.m. to connect the berth with a huge rope. With the help of tugs, the mooring was repositioned so that the container side was parallel to the crane. At 9:51 am the San Fernando was safely moored in the center of the berth.

Minister Vasavan distributed sweets to Minister G.R.Anil, M.Vincent MLA and Principal Secretary K.S.Sreenivas. Port Company MD Divya S. Iyer, Adani Ports Special Economic Zone CEO Ashwani Gupta, Adani Ports CEO Pranav Chaudhary and Vizhinjam Port CEO Pradeep Jayaraman were also present.

• At 12:05 pm, the container was unloaded using an automated crane

• The first container was unloaded at 12:25 by the crane arm-like part

• The capacity of the cranes and the automated system have been checked and confirmed

• All the containers will be brought to the port by Friday morning

• Feeder ships will arrive on the 13th and 14th to carry away these containers

• San Fernando will sail off to Colombo on Friday evening

San Fernando will be given a reception by the state government on Friday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Vizhinjam port at 10 am on Friday.