<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">V.O. Chidambaranar Port has strengthened its regional maritime connectivity with the commencement of a new mainline container service linking Thoothukudi with southern China and Vietnam, following the arrival of the Singapore-flagged MV Nawata Bhum at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) on 18 October 2026 </span><span class="">. The vessel, with a container capacity of approximately 1,100 TEUs, a length overall of 147.82 metres and a beam of 23.38 metres, was received by port and terminal officials, marking another international container connection for the Tamil Nadu gateway </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="1" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-china-vietnam-service/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/voc-port-receives-mainline-vessel-boosts-connectivity-with-south-china-and-vietnam/article71600472.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="2" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The service is operated by Regional Container Lines (RCL) and follows a port rotation covering Qinzhou in southern China, Haiphong in Vietnam, Thoothukudi, Kattupalli, and Chu Lai in Vietnam before returning to Qinzhou </span><span class="">. Announced transit times are 13 days from Qinzhou to Thoothukudi and 12 days from Haiphong to Thoothukudi, offering southern Tamil Nadu's manufacturers and traders an additional routing option for cargo movement to and from East and Southeast Asia </span><span class="">. Chakiat Shipping Services Pvt Ltd, Tuticorin, serves as the vessel's local agent </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="5" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-china-vietnam-service/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/voc-port-receives-mainline-vessel-boosts-connectivity-with-south-china-and-vietnam/article71600472.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="2" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The service will initially operate on a bi-weekly schedule, with plans to scale up to weekly frequency depending on market demand from exporters and importers </span><span class="">. Beyond direct container movement between the named ports, the rotation provides shipping lines and Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs) with an additional transshipment option to route outbound export cargo from Thoothukudi through Kattupalli for onward connections </span><span class="">. This gives the service a role extending beyond direct port-to-port trade.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="11" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-china-vietnam-service/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiashippingnews.com/ports/voc-port-strengthens-regional-maritime-connectivity-with-arrival-of-mainline-vessel-m-v-nawatabhum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="5" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiaseatradenews.com/voc-port-boosts-vietnam-and-china-connectivity-with-new-mainline-vessel/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="7" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The new connection is expected to particularly benefit industries located in the port's hinterland, including solar panel manufacturing and electric vehicle production, by widening access to Chinese and Vietnamese markets </span><span class="">. These sectors have emerged as key growth drivers for Tamil Nadu's industrial base, and improved shipping linkages can support both component sourcing and finished goods exports. Other exporters and importers in the region also gain an additional basis for comparing gateway access, sailing schedules and freight offers.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="15" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-china-vietnam-service/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/voc-port-gets-new-shipping-link-to-china-vietnam/135045972?utm_source=latest_news&utm_medium=homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="3" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Port authority chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit said the new service would strengthen maritime connectivity and facilitate international trade, adding that upcoming infrastructure projects would further enhance the port's container-handling capacity </span><span class="">. "The arrival of the mainline container vessel M.V. Nawata Bhum marks a significant step in strengthening the Port's regional maritime connectivity with South China and Vietnam," Purohit said, citing the proposed third container terminal at Berth No. 7 and the Outer Harbour project as key developments that would attract more shipping services and reinforce VOC Port's position as a major container hub on India's east coast </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="17" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/voc-port-gets-new-shipping-link-to-china-vietnam/135045972?utm_source=latest_news&utm_medium=homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="3" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiashippingnews.com/ports/voc-port-strengthens-regional-maritime-connectivity-with-arrival-of-mainline-vessel-m-v-nawatabhum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="5" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiaseatradenews.com/voc-port-boosts-vietnam-and-china-connectivity-with-new-mainline-vessel/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="7" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The service launch comes against a backdrop of steady container traffic growth at VOC Port. The port handled approximately 442,000 TEUs during April–September 2026, an increase of 3.18% from around 428,000 TEUs in the corresponding period a year earlier </span><span class="">. DBGT, which operates at Berth VIII within the port, features a 335.5-metre berth, a draft of 14.2 metres and an annual container-handling capacity of six lakh TEUs, providing the handling interface for the new mainline call </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="21" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.maritimegateway.com/voc-port-china-vietnam-service/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://indiaseatradenews.com/voc-port-boosts-vietnam-and-china-connectivity-with-new-mainline-vessel/#respond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="7" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Looking ahead, the sustainability of the new service will depend on sustained bookings and schedule reliability as RCL assesses demand for a potential frequency upgrade. The port's parallel infrastructure investments—including the ₹517.19-crore conversion of Berth No. 7 into a container terminal with planned annual capacity of 420,000 TEUs—signal a longer-term strategy to expand capacity in line with growing trade flows </span><span class="">. For southern Tamil Nadu's exporting community, the immediate development is the availability of another direct connection to two of Asia's key manufacturing economies, with the prospect of more frequent sailings if volumes justify it.</span></p>
VOC Port Launches Direct Container Service to South China and Vietnam
V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi has launched a new container shipping service connecting South China and Vietnam, marked by the arrival of the Singapore-flagged MV Nawata Bhum at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal on 18 October 2026. Operated by Regional Container Lines, the service offers transit times of 13 days from Qinzhou and 12 days from Haiphong, initially on a bi-weekly schedule. The connection is expected to benefit solar panel and electric vehicle manufacturers in southern Tamil Nadu's hinterland while providing an additional transshipment option through Kattupalli.
