V.O. Chidambaranar Port has set a new benchmark in container vessel handling with the berthing of M.V. CMA CGM THORIUM, a 335.23-metre-long, 13,000-TEU-class vessel, at the Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT).
The vessel is the longest container ship ever to berth at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, surpassing the previous record of 304 metres set by M.V. MSC Michaela in December 2025. The new benchmark represents an increase of more than 31 metres in the maximum vessel length handled by the Port within nine months.
The achievement follows a series of marine infrastructure and navigational upgrades undertaken by the Port. The permissible draft has been increased to 14.2 metres, the turning circle widened from 488 metres to 550 metres, and two additional tugs have been inducted to strengthen marine operations.
M.V. CMA CGM THORIUM has a beam of 51 metres and arrived at the Port with a draft of 13.5 metres. The vessel, capable of operating on methanol as well as conventional marine fuel, arrived from Santos, Brazil, and will proceed to Singapore as its next port of call.
During its call at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, the vessel is scheduled to handle 3,276 TEUs, comprising 1,324 TEUs of import cargo and 1,952 TEUs of restow cargo.
The vessel is being handled at TICT, which has an annual capacity of 6 lakh TEUs, a 370-metre quay, 14.2-metre permissible draft, three quay cranes, a 10-hectare backup area and 126 reefer points.
Shri Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, said the Port’s recent investments in draft, turning-circle and tug capacity were aimed at strengthening its ability to receive larger vessels. He noted that the progression from the 304-metre vessel handled in December 2025 to the 335.23-metre CMA CGM THORIUM demonstrates the operational outcome of these improvements.
The Port is now focused on leveraging its enhanced vessel-handling capability to attract more large-vessel calls, increase container volumes and strengthen connectivity with global trade routes.
Container traffic has continued to grow alongside these developments. During FY 2026–27 up to August 2026, V.O. Chidambaranar Port handled 3.67 lakh TEUs, compared with 3.62 lakh TEUs during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Overall cargo traffic increased 2.10% to 18.27 million tonnes, from 17.89 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
A commemorative event was held at TICT to mark the vessel’s arrival. Shri Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, welcomed the Master of M.V. CMA CGM THORIUM in the presence of senior Port officials and terminal representatives.