VOC Port enhances India-China-Vietnam trade with new vessel service

V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin has enhanced its maritime connectivity with South China and Vietnam through the arrival of the mainline container vessel M. V. Nawata Bhum at the Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT).

Operated by the Singapore-flagged Regional Container Line (RCL), the vessel has a capacity of approximately 1,100 TEUs. The service follows a rotation including Qinzhou, China; Haiphong, Vietnam; Tuticorin, India; Kattupalli, India; and Chu Lai, Vietnam. Transit times are estimated at 13 days from Qinzhou to Tuticorin and 12 days from Haiphong to Tuticorin.

The service will initially operate on a fortnightly schedule, with potential increases to weekly sailings based on market demand. It also provides transshipment options for outbound export cargo through Kattupalli Port. This development is expected to support industries such as solar panel manufacturing, electronics, and electric vehicle manufacturing by improving market access.