<p data-path-to-node="2"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0">THOOTHUKUDI —</b> Setting an operational milestone along India's southeastern coastline, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has recorded its highest-ever monthly container handling performance, clocking a record throughput of 33,771 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at its deepwater container facilities.</p><p data-path-to-node="3">The throughput peak reflects surging industrial container traffic moving through Southern Tamil Nadu's manufacturing belts and marks a significant operational step forward as VOC Port expands its deepwater quayside capabilities to handle mainline and high-density short-sea container services. Terminal operations across Berth No. 8 and North Cargo Berth facilities maintained high berth productivity throughout the multi-week handling sprint, servicing a continuous rotation of regional feeder vessels and direct-call container liners without triggering outer-anchorage idling or landside congestion.</p><p data-path-to-node="4">Port administration metrics reveal that the monthly surge was propelled by expanded shipments of high-value EXIM commodities originating from regional production corridors. Key drivers included outbound finished apparel and textiles from Tirupur and Karur, precision automotive assemblies and electrical machinery from Coimbatore, agro-commodities including spices and grains, and frozen marine seafood consignments requiring active refrigerated container plug points across the dock yard. On the inbound front, consistent deliveries of industrial raw materials, capital machinery spares, and containerized chemicals supported round-the-clock clearance cycles.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">The handling volume was achieved on the back of synchronized quayside mechanization and terminal digital integration. VOC Port’s high-capacity quay gantry cranes, deployed alongside heavy-duty mobile harbor cranes and electrified rubber-tyred gantry (e-RTG) yards, maintained gross crane movements above established performance baselines. Furthermore, the deployment of real-time terminal operating systems (TOS) and digitized gate entry systems compressed container truck turnaround times within the harbor perimeter, enabling inland container depots (ICDs) across Madurai, Tuticorin, and Tirunelveli to cycle drayage trailers smoothly.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Speaking on the achievement, port leadership commended terminal concessionaires, dock labor unions, customs house agents, and shipping liner representatives for driving continuous efficiency gains. VOC Port Authority Chairman Susanta Kumar Purohit highlighted that surpassing the 33,000-TEU monthly threshold validates the strategic operational investments underway at the port. With execution progressing on the port’s flagship ₹15,000-crore Outer Harbour deepwater container terminal expansion and capital dredging works engineered to increase basin drafts to 18 meters, VOC Port is methodically enhancing its competitive posture against international transshipment gateways across the Indian Ocean rim under the national <i data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="724">Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047</i> framework.</p>