Kerala Port Emerges As Hotspot For Shipping Amid Tensions In West Asia, But There’s A Problem

About 100 ships from eight international shipping companies are lining up on a waiting list for berths at Vizhinjam due to the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Vizhinjam Port in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram. (PTI)

The Vizhinjam Port in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as a hotspot for increased shipping traffic due to the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran persist after a six-week war.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States Navy will begin blocking ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, citing Iran’s “unyielding” stance on its nuclear ambitions during recent peace talks in Islamabad.

About 100 ships from eight international shipping companies are lining up on a waiting list for berths at Vizhinjam, as they are unable to head towards ports in the UAE, according to a report by The Week. The port has gained prominence due to its proximity to an international shipping route used by UAE-bound vessels.

The route saves the vessel extra travel time and fuel they need to travel north along India’s western coast to reach the Mumbai port in Maharashtra or the Mundra Port in Gujarat. Its curvilinear coast mitigates tsunami impact, while the port’s positioning results in only mild erosion, minimising maintenance costs.

The port in Thiruvananthapuram district was developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest port developer, in 2025 under a public-private partnership to transform India’s role in international trade and shipping.

Shipping Constraints Pose Problem

Despite vessels from Europe, South America, China and Singapore lining up for berths, a report by Manorama Online said the port is unable to take advantage of the opportunity due to a severe shortage of space.

Phase 1 of the Vizhinjam Port handles 1 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). The port’s container berth is capable of handling two mother ships, or four feeder vessels, at a time. This space is almost entirely booked by international shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), leaving no room for other vessels as of now.

The situation can lead to a possible loss of shipping operations worth crores in additional revenue for the port. The project has received Rs 10,000 crore for phase two of its expansion operations, under which this container berth will be expanded in size from 800m to 1,200m by 2027, and then to 2,000m by 2028.

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