VOC Port Receives First Call of CVI Service Linking Thoothukudi with Vietnam, China and Malaysia

V.O. Chidambaranar Port has been added to the CVI container service linking India with Vietnam, China and Malaysia, with the Vietnamese-flagged vessel MV Haian Alfa making its first call at the Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal on 7 November 2026 . The service, operated by Samsara Shipping, runs on a fortnightly rotation connecting Tuticorin, Chennai, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Qinzhou and Port Klang, giving southern India a new direct maritime corridor to Southeast and East Asian markets .

The inaugural call involved the discharge and loading of 823 TEUs at DBGT. Of this total, 723 TEUs were import containers primarily serving Vietnamese automaker VinFast, while 100 TEUs were transshipment cargo destined for Colombo . The Haian Alfa flies the Vietnamese flag, has a maximum container capacity of 1,781 TEUs, and measures 171.9 metres in length with a beam of 28.4 metres . The vessel's deployment on this route reflects the growing trade relationship between India and Vietnam, particularly in the automotive sector where VinFast has been expanding its sourcing and distribution footprint.

The transit times offered by the service are competitive for the India–Southeast Asia corridor. According to the rotation plan, Thoothukudi to Ho Chi Minh City takes approximately seven days by sea, while Thoothukudi to Haiphong takes about ten days . The fortnightly frequency gives exporters and importers in southern India a regular schedule they can plan around, rather than relying on ad hoc or transshipment-dependent connections to Vietnamese and Chinese ports.

The cargo mix that the service is expected to handle spans a broad range of Indian export categories. Rice and grain products, bone meal, raw cashew, seafood, cotton and yarn, chemicals, food and beverages, coir products, coco peat and garments are among the goods identified as suitable for the route . These are sectors where southern India has established production clusters, and direct access to Vietnamese, Chinese and Malaysian markets can improve their competitiveness by reducing transit times and transshipment costs.

The terminal handling the new service has capacity to support the growth. DBGT has a 335.5-metre berth with a design draught of 14.2 metres and an annual container handling capacity of 600,000 TEUs . VOC Port's container throughput for April–October 2026 stood at 5.16 lakh TEUs, up 2.56% from 5.03 lakh TEUs in the same period last year . The addition of the CVI call builds on that growth trajectory and gives the port a new service string that complements its existing routes.

The CVI service had previously been launched at Chennai in October 2026, with the Haian Beta making the first call there before Thoothukudi was added to the rotation . The extension to Thoothukudi means southern India's cargo can now access the same fortnightly network through a port that is closer to the region's production centres, reducing the inland transport distance for exporters in Tamil Nadu's southern districts.

Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson of VOC Port Authority, framed the call in terms of direct connectivity. "The maiden call of M.V. Haian Alfa at VOC Port marks an important step in strengthening our direct connectivity with Vietnam, facilitating the movement of cargo between the region and overseas markets," he said. "VOC Port remains committed to strengthening its infrastructure and maritime connectivity to support EXIM trade and the industrial growth of its hinterland" .

For India's container logistics sector, the new service reflects the broader pattern of India–Southeast Asia trade growth that has emerged during the disruptions to longer-haul routes. As Red Sea and Hormuz uncertainties have complicated Asia–Europe and Asia–Middle East shipping, intra-Asian trade has become relatively more attractive for carriers seeking stable utilisation. The CVI service adds capacity on a corridor that serves India's growing economic ties with Vietnam and the wider ASEAN region.

Looking ahead, the sustainability of the service will depend on cargo uptake at each port call and the reliability of the fortnightly schedule. The inaugural call's 823 TEUs provides a starting volume, but the service will need to build consistent utilisation to justify its continuation. For Thoothukudi's exporters and importers, the CVI call offers a direct connection to Southeast Asian markets that was previously available only through transshipment at Colombo or other hubs, and its performance will indicate whether southern India can sustain a dedicated service on this corridor.