Wan Hai Lines has officially launched its new Tamil Nadu–Thailand Express (TTX) service, introducing a direct shipping route linking Vietnam, Thailand, and India amid surging bilateral trade volumes across the region. The service made its first calls at Chennai and Visakhapatnam on May 5 and 6, respectively, marked by an inaugural ceremony attended by Wan Hai representatives and local terminal partners.
The new TTX service operates on a 28-day fixed rotation using four 2,200 TEU vessels, offering shippers a more reliable and efficient solution for cross-regional cargo movement. The maiden voyage was performed by WAN HAI 317, which departed Cai Lai Port in Vietnam on April 20. The full port rotation includes: Cai Lai – Laem Chabang – Singapore – Port Klang (North) – Chennai – Visakhapatnam – Port Klang (North) – Singapore – Cai Lai.
The launch underscores Wan Hai’s long-term commitment to the Indian market, where the carrier has maintained operations for over 29 years with comprehensive service coverage across India’s east, west, and south coasts. The TTX service further enhances that footprint by providing direct coverage to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, key production and export hubs in India’s southern corridor.
“With India’s continued rise as a manufacturing and consumption powerhouse, there is a growing demand for dependable regional shipping solutions,” the company said in a statement. “The TTX service strengthens our Southeast Asia–South Asia network and reflects our ongoing investment in high-growth trade lanes.”
The addition of this dedicated Southeast Asia–India loop comes as nearshoring trends and supply chain diversification drive demand for enhanced intra-Asia connectivity. By linking industrial and consumer markets in Vietnam, Thailand, and India, the TTX service facilitates faster lead times for regional manufacturers and exporters while reducing dependency on indirect transshipment routes.
From a port operations perspective, the inclusion of Visakhapatnam alongside Chennai broadens Wan Hai’s East India port coverage, offering shippers greater flexibility in routing options and port pair combinations. The service is also positioned to support transshipment needs via Singapore and Port Klang, allowing for deeper network integration into Wan Hai’s wider Asia–Europe and intra-Asia services.
As part of its broader South Asia strategy, Wan Hai plans to continue expanding capacity, deploying additional assets, and enhancing port partnerships to support the region’s growing role in global supply chains.