V.O.C. Port handles 335-meter-long container vessel to set new record

V.O. Chidambaranar Port has demonstrated its proficiency in handling larger vessel as the seaport set a new record on Sunday by handling 335.23-metre-long container vessel, CMA CGM Thorium from Brazil, with over 13,000 containers.

This is the longest container ship ever to be handled and berthed at V.O.C. Port, surpassing the previous record of 304 metres set by handling M.V. MSC Michaela in December 2025. The increase of more than 31 metres in the maximum vessel length handled by the Port within nine months marks significant expansion in the scale of container vessels that can now be accommodated in V.O.C. Port.

The new record follows a series of marine infrastructure and navigational improvements undertaken at the Port, the officials say. The permissible draft has been increased to 14.2 metres, the turning circle widened from 488 metres to 550 metres and two additional tugs inducted to strengthen marine operations and ensure smooth berthing of the vessels. These measures have progressively addressed the operational requirements associated with handling larger vessels and expanded the Port’s vessel-handling envelope, they say.

M.V. CMA CGM Thorium has an overall length of 335.23 metres, a beam of 51 metres and arrived at the Port with a draft of 13.5 metres. The 13,000-TEU-class vessel is capable of operating on both methanol and conventional marine fuel. It arrived from Santos, Brazil and will proceed to Singapore as its next port of call.

During its call at V.O.C. Port, the vessel is scheduled to handle 3,276 TEUs, comprising 1,324 TEUs of import cargo and 1,952 TEUs of re-stow cargo. The vessel is being handled at the Tuticorin International Container Terminal, which has an annual container handling capacity of 6 lakh TEUs, a 370-metre quay, permissible draft of 14.2 metres, three quay cranes, a 10-hectare backup area and 126 reefer points. The terminal infrastructure, together with the Port’s enhanced navigational and marine capabilities, provides the operating platform required for larger container vessel calls.

The progression is also visible in the scale of vessels calling at the Port. In December 2025, the 304-metre M.V. MSC Michaela established a new vessel-length record at V.O.C. Port. Nine months later, the 335.23-metre M.V. CMA CGM Thorium has raised the benchmark by more than 31 metres, the officials say.

Chairman of V.O.C. Port Susanta Kumar Purohit said in a statement that over the past one year, the Port had intensely focused on strengthening the marine infrastructure required to receive larger vessels. Increasing the permissible draft, widening the turning circle and augmenting tug capacity were part of that effort. The Port had started to see the operational outcome of these improvements, with the Port progressing from handling a 304-metre container vessel in December 2025 to a 335.23-metre vessel on September 14, 2026.

‘The next priority is to use this enhanced capability to attract more large-vessel calls, strengthen container volumes and improve the Port’s connectivity with global trade routes,” Mr. Purohit said.

Container traffic at V.O.C. Port has continued to grow alongside these capability improvements. During the current fiscal year up to August 2026, the Port has handled 3.67 lakh TEUs, compared to 3.62 lakh TEUs during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Overall cargo traffic has increased by 2.10% to 18.27 million tonnes from 17.89 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year.

As a commemorative event was held at Tuticorin International Container Terminal to mark the vessel’s arrival, Rajesh Soundararajan, Deputy Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, welcomed the Master of M.V. CMA CGM Thorium in the presence of senior officials of the Port.