San Fernando becomes first ship to arrive at Kerala's Vizhinjam Port with 1,930 containers
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Historic arrival at Vizhinjam Port
In a historic milestone, Vizhinjam International Port, India's first deep-water container transshipment port, welcomed its first mothership on Thursday morning.
The Marshall Island-flagged container ship 'San Fernando' arrived from Xiamen Port, China, marking a new chapter in India's maritime history.
Ship details and operations
Owned by SFL Corporation Limited, chartered by Maersk (AP Moller Group) and managed by Bernhard Schulte Ship Management, Singapore, San Fernando carried 1,930 containers.
Adani Port pilots boarded the ship at 7:45 am and guided it through the port's buoy channel to the berth, assisted by 4 tugs.
Ceremonial welcome
The ship was accorded a water salute on its arrival. The unloading of cargo from the ship began at 2 pm, with the ship scheduled to leave for Colombo on Friday after an official welcome by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Background of the port project
The Rs 7,700 crore Vizhinjam port project in partnership between the Kerala government and the Adani Group began in December 2015. Despite the delay, the trial run of the port will officially begin on July 12, ahead of its revised commissioning in December 2024.
India hosts BIMSTEC foreign ministers amid Myanmar crisis
Call for internal solution
During the first BIMSTEC foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the need for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to address regional challenges internally.
They have highlighted the urgent need for capacity building and economic cooperation within the grouping, which includes Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.
Myanmar instability concerns
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of instability in Myanmar, where the military junta is facing significant resistance from ethnic armed organizations (EAOs). This instability poses challenges to development and connectivity projects in the region.
Focus on connectivity and stability
After meeting Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister U Than Swe, Jaishankar discussed important connectivity projects and border stability. While India's humanitarian assistance to Myanmar is limited to displaced populations and military personnel taking refuge in Mizoram.
The country continues to cooperate with Myanmar and Thailand to combat transnational crimes such as cyber, narcotics and illegal arms trafficking.
Indian ship crew wins 'Exceptional Bravery' award for rescue operations in Red Sea
IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery
Captain 'Avilash Rawat' and his crew on board the oil tanker Marlin Luanda have been declared winners of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2024 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
They have been awarded for their 'exceptional courage' during the Red Sea rescue operation.
Valiant response to missile attack
On January 26, 2024, Marlin Luanda, carrying 84,147 tonnes of naphtha, was hit by an anti-ship missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels while en route from Suez to Incheon.
The explosion ignited a cargo tank, posing a major fire risk. 'Captain Rawat' had swiftly organized firefighting efforts, while ensuring the safety of the crew and maintaining the ship's navigability.
Assistance from INS Visakhapatnam
Captain Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of Indian Naval Ship INS Visakhapatnam received a letter of commendation for their cooperation during the incident. Despite extreme danger and threat of further attacks, the Marlin Luanda crew doused the fire using seawater after their foam supplies were exhausted.
