In a move aimed at strengthening regional maritime connectivity and boosting trade, the Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT), operated by the JM Baxi Group at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, has launched a new shuttle feeder service linking Tuticorin and Colombo.
The service was formally inaugurated by Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson of the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, in the presence of terminal officials, shipping representatives and senior port executives. The inaugural voyage was undertaken by the Panama-flagged vessel M.V. Serene Ingrid, which has a carrying capacity of 669 TEUs and 60 reefer points.
The vessel sailed on its maiden voyage carrying 169 TEUs from Tuticorin to Colombo. Chartered by Blue Atlas Lines and represented locally by United Liner Shipping Services LLP, a JM Baxi Group company, the service is expected to provide exporters and importers with enhanced access to regional and global markets.
The shuttle service will operate twice weekly, with departures from Tuticorin every Tuesday and Friday and from Colombo every Wednesday and Saturday. In addition to regular container cargo, the service is equipped to handle dangerous goods, offering greater flexibility to customers.
The launch comes as VOC Port continues to register steady growth in container traffic. The port handled 1.45 lakh TEUs during the current financial year up to May 2026, recording a 6.1 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year. During FY 2025-26, the port processed 8.67 lakh TEUs, reflecting an annual growth of 8.93 per cent.
Tuticorin International Container Terminal currently operates a 370-metre berth with a draft of 14.2 metres and an annual handling capacity of 600,000 TEUs. The terminal serves a mix of international, coastal and regional shipping services connecting South India with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and major domestic ports.
In a message on the occasion, Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, highlighted that the new feeder service underscores the port authority’s commitment to expanding shipping connectivity, improving service offerings and supporting the growth of India’s EXIM trade.
Looking ahead, VOC Port is set to significantly enhance its container-handling capabilities with the upcoming third container terminal at Berth No. 7, which will raise total capacity to 1.8 million TEUs. The proposed Outer Harbour project, designed to handle 5.2 million TEUs, is expected to further strengthen the port’s position as a key container hub on India’s east coast.