Thoothukudi, October 19, 2026: V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tamil Nadu has strengthened its maritime links with China and Vietnam following the arrival of the container vessel M.V. Nawata Bhum at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT). The new shipping service offers a 13-day transit from China’s Qinzhou port and a 12-day transit from Vietnam’s Haiphong port to Thoothukudi.
The Singapore-flagged vessel arrived at the terminal on October 18, 2026, according to maritime news platform PortWings. It has a container capacity of approximately 1,100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), measures 147.82 metres in length and is 23.38 metres wide.
Operated by Regional Container Line (RCL), the service connects Qinzhou in China, Haiphong in Vietnam, Thoothukudi and Kattupalli in India, and Chu Lai in Vietnam before returning to Qinzhou.
The service is scheduled to operate every two weeks initially, with plans to introduce weekly sailings depending on demand from exporters and importers.
The new connection provides businesses in southern Tamil Nadu with an additional shipping option for moving goods between India, China and Vietnam. It also offers freight operators another route for moving export containers through Kattupalli Port for onward transshipment.
The reported transit times refer to shipping movements between the overseas ports and Thoothukudi. They do not represent guaranteed end-to-end delivery times, which may vary depending on customs clearance, terminal handling and inland transportation.
The development comes as V.O. Chidambaranar Port continues to expand its container-handling activities.
According to PortWings, the port handled 4.42 lakh TEUs during April–September 2026, compared with approximately 4.28 lakh TEUs during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The publication reported year-on-year growth of 3.18%.
A TEU is a standard measure of container capacity equivalent to one 20-foot shipping container.
Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal, where M.V. Nawata Bhum arrived, has a 335.5-metre berth, a reported draft of 14.2 metres and an annual container-handling capacity of 6 lakh TEUs.
The new shipping connection could provide additional international cargo transport options for industries around Thoothukudi, including solar panel and electric vehicle manufacturers.
However, the report does not provide estimates of additional cargo volumes, lower freight costs or reductions in delivery times resulting from the service.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit described the vessel’s arrival as an important development in strengthening the port’s maritime connectivity with South China and Vietnam.
He also highlighted plans for a third container terminal at Berth No. 7 and the Outer Harbour project, both aimed at expanding the port’s container-handling capacity and attracting additional shipping services.
The report did not confirm that these proposed infrastructure projects had been completed.
The arrival of M.V. Nawata Bhum marks the addition of a mainline shipping service connecting Thoothukudi with ports in China and Vietnam. The service is initially planned to operate fortnightly, with any increase to weekly sailings dependent on market demand.
Read also: Centre sets 90-day deadline for maritime dispute rulings, allows 60-day extension in special cases
Read also: Goa’s Mormugao becomes first major Indian port to secure private 5G approval for smarter cargo tracking
