V.O. Chidambaranar Port’s Tuticorin International Container Terminal, operated by JM Baxi Group, has commenced a new feeder shuttle service between Tuticorin and Colombo, strengthening container connectivity for exporters and importers in the region.
The service was inaugurated on 6 June 2026 by V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority Deputy Chairperson Rajesh Soundararajan, in the presence of Tuticorin International Container Terminal Head C. Deep Kishore Reddy, M.V. Serene Ingrid Ship Master Capt. Samantha Gurusingh, senior port officials and representatives of the shipping fraternity.
The Panama-flagged M.V. Serene Ingrid, with a capacity of 669 TEUs and 60 reefer points, will handle 169 TEUs from Tuticorin to Colombo on its first voyage.
The Tuticorin-Colombo shuttle service will call at Tuticorin twice a week, with sailings from Tuticorin on Tuesdays and Fridays and from Colombo on Wednesdays and Saturdays, providing regular connectivity between the two ports.
The service will also accept dangerous goods cargo, offering greater flexibility to trade users on the route.
It has been chartered by Blue Atlas Lines, while United Liner Shipping Services LLP, a JM Baxi Group company, is the vessel agent.
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VOC Port handled 1.45 lakh TEUs of containers up to May 2026 in the current financial year, compared with 1.37 lakh TEUs in the same period of the previous financial year, registering 6.1% growth.
During 2025-26, the port handled 8.67 lakh TEUs of containers, recording 8.93% growth.
Tuticorin International Container Terminal has a 370-metre berth, 14.2-metre draft and annual capacity of 600,000 TEUs.
The terminal offers international, coastal and regional container services connecting South India with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Maldives, Sri Lanka and major Indian ports.
VOC Port Authority Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit said the addition of the new feeder service reflects the Port Authority’s continued commitment to expanding container shipping connectivity, enhancing service offerings and supporting the growth of EXIM trade through V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
With the upcoming third container terminal at Berth No. 7, VOC Port will have a combined container handling capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.
The Outer Harbour project, with 5.2 million TEUs capacity, is expected to further reinforce VOC Port’s position as a container handling hub on India’s east coast.
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