Larger vessels to call at Vizhinjam, opening up direct links to Europe

VIZHINJAM International Seaport is poised to become a key link between Asia and Europe with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's largest container shipping company by fleet size and cargo capacity, announcing plans to make it a port of call for its larger container ships by the end of February.

- UNNIKRISHNAN S @T'Puram

MSC's Jade service, which connects Asia and Europe, will now include a stop at Vizhinjam before continuing to the Mediterranean, Michele Aversa, head of fleet/network at the Geneva-based shipping company, said at the Vizhinjam Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram.

Aversa highlighted that this move would bring larger vessels, with capacities ranging from 23,000 to 24,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), to dock at the port, boosting its prospects.