Vizhinjam has a number of strengths as a Port. The Port is only a 10 NM diversion from international east-west shipping route and is also close to national/regional road, air and rail networks. The sea is 23 to 27 metres deep at the proposed site. This would facilitate berthing of large container ships sizes of 8,000 TUS and later 10,000 and 12,000 TUS, No other existing Indian port has this much capacity to allow entry to large ships. This will boost the trade and commercial activities not only in Kerala but to the whole India. It is estimated that the cargo movements to southern, northern and western regions may find it more cost-effecitve to use Vizhinjam as a gateway/trans-shipment terminal instead of ports in Colombo, Singapore, Salalah.