Global Freight Forum I Tuticorin

V O Chidambaranar Port’s (formerly Tuticorin Port) rising stature as a gateway to global trade is attracting cargo owners, freight forwarders, shipping lines and terminal operators to count on the major port – one of the 12 owned by the Union government – to do business.

The port, located close to the East-West international sea route, has two container terminals and many multipurpose berths that handles a variety of cargo ranging from containers, edible oil, rock phosphate and coal to windmill blades. The port’s two container terminals handle close to 7.5 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and was recently ranked the third best in the country in the category of ports handling more than 5 lakh TEUs.

The efficiency of container terminals, coupled with proximity to container freight stations, ease of doing business initiatives, congestion-free port gates and smooth hinterland connectivity are making the port a force to reckon with among India’s container ports in the face of rising competition.

It’s a trail blazer in adopting green energy such as rooftop solar installations of 1.04 MW capacity that has reduced carbon emissions and has initiated steps to promote production of green energy such as green hydrogen/ammonia, and their storage and export as well as making the port a green fuel bunkering and refuelling facility.

V O C Port was recently named a part of India’s first green shipping corridor linking it with Deendayal Port in Gujarat.

The port authority has recently introduced a minimum guaranteed throughput-based incentive scheme for dry bulk cargo. 

With its superior infrastructure and the best turn-around time for ships among major ports, V O C Port has quickly emerged as a gateway for the trade in southern India.

To showcase the port’s cargo handling capabilities and attract more cargo, India Seatrade and FIEO are jointly organising the ‘Global Freight Forum’ in Tuticorin on 20 June 2025, with the tagline “Facilitating Global Trade through Tuticorin Port”.

The ‘Global Freight Forum’ aims to promote the port and enhance the competitiveness of trade and logistics in Tamil Nadu.

The event will cover three topics:

• Green Port -Where does V O C Port stack up?
• Tuticorin’s port’s potential and its unique selling proposition
• The challenges in expanding the port’s capacity