Senior Shipping Ministry Official Visits V.O. Chidambaranar Port

Tuticorin:

Port Wings News Network:

As part of his major ports visit, Venkatesapathy, IAS, Joint Secretary (Ports, IT & e-Governance), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on 29 December 2025 visited the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin.

Along with senior VOC PA officers, Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, VOCPA, and Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, welcomed the senior official to the port premises.

During the visit, port officials gave a detailed briefing on port’s performance, sustainability initiatives, digital transformation, cargo trends, and development projects, highlighting areas requiring continued Ministry support to enhance efficiency and long-term growth.

Chidambaranar Port Floats Tender for Outer Harbour Development Project

During the week, VOC Port Authority floated the tender for its Outer Harbour Development Project under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

According to port official, this transformative initiative will deliver two state-of-the-art deep-draft terminals, each featuring a 1,000-metre quay length and 18-metre draft.

The project is set to significantly enhance cargo handling capacity, facilitate the berthing of larger vessels, strengthen global trade connectivity, and further advance India’s maritime and logistics ambitions. Bidding documents is made available from 26 December 2025 to 9 February 2026.

27.58% year-on-year growth in Sulphuric Acid cargo

V.O. Chidambaranar Port has achieved a notable milestone with a 27.58% year-on-year growth in Sulphuric Acid cargo handling during April–November 2025–26, increasing from 3.54 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 to 4.52 lakh tonnes in 2025–26. This growth underscores the Port’s robust operational capabilities, efficient logistics, and its vital role in supporting India’s industrial and maritime trade ecosystem.

Also, the port has registered a cargo handling lead of more than one million metric tonnes over last financial year. By 27 December 2025, the Port has handled 31,418,386 million tonnes, an increase from 30,387,698 million tonnes handled during the same period in FY 2024–25 registering a YoY growth of 3.39%. These figures reflect the Port’s sustained operational efficiency and its central role in facilitating maritime trade across South India.

Besides, the port continues to demonstrate strong operational performance, with limestone cargo registering an impressive 38.08% year-on-year growth during April–November 2025–26, compared to the corresponding period in 2024–25.

This sustained growth reflects efficient cargo handling, robust infrastructure, and the Port’s commitment to supporting key industrial supply chains and national logistics requirements.

Growth in raw cashew cargo

The port has recorded a 59.27% year-on-year growth in raw cashew cargo during April–November 2025, compared to the corresponding period of April–November 2024. This strong performance highlights the Port’s growing role in facilitating agricultural and allied commodity trade through efficient cargo handling and robust port infrastructure.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives for 2024–25, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin had supported Harbour Primary School through the procurement of furniture for its newly constructed school building.

The initiative, carried out at a total cost of ₹7 lakhs, aims to create a comfortable and conducive learning environment for students, reinforcing the Port’s commitment to education, social welfare, and inclusive community development.