V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin has strengthened its international shipping connectivity with the maiden call of Vietnamese-flagged container vessel MV Haian Alfa at the Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) on November 7, 2026.
The vessel’s arrival marks the extension of the Chennai–Vietnam (CVI) Service to Tuticorin, providing a direct shipping connection to Vietnam and additional access to key Asian trading markets. The service is operated by Samsara Shipping Pvt. Ltd. and will run on a fortnightly basis.
With a container capacity of 1,781 TEUs, MV Haian Alfa is 171.9 metres long and has a beam of 28.4 metres. During its maiden call, the vessel handled 823 TEUs at DBGT. This included 723 TEUs of import containers, predominantly for electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, and 100 TEUs of transshipment cargo destined for Colombo.
Tuticorin–Vietnam Shipping Route
Under the revised CVI Service rotation, the vessel connects Tuticorin and Chennai with Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong in Vietnam, Qinzhou in China and Port Klang in Malaysia before returning to Tuticorin.
The scheduled transit time from Tuticorin is approximately seven days to Ho Chi Minh and ten days to Hai Phong. The fortnightly service is expected to offer exporters and importers more regular container shipping options across these markets.
Boost for Regional Exports
The new connection is expected to support exports from industries in the port’s hinterland. Key products include rice and cereals, bone meal, raw cashew, seafood, cotton, yarn, chemicals, food products, beverages, coir products, coco peat and garments.
The addition of Tuticorin to the CVI Service is expected to improve access to international markets and create further opportunities for regional businesses engaged in export-import trade.
VOC Port Records Container Traffic Growth
V.O. Chidambaranar Port handled 5.16 lakh TEUs of container traffic between April and October 2026 in the financial year 2026–27. This represents a 2.56% increase compared with the 5.03 lakh TEUs handled during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
DBGT, which operates the container terminal at VOC Port, has a 335.5-metre berth, a draft of 14.2 metres and an annual container-handling capacity of six lakh TEUs.
The extension of the CVI Service to Tuticorin adds another international shipping option for businesses across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring regions, strengthening the port’s role in India’s maritime trade network.
