A new container cargo ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is set to begin in late August or early September 2026, creating a regular freight link across the Palk Strait. The service will connect Karaikal in India with Kankesanthurai and Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, offering a dedicated route for containerised cargo movement.
The weekly service will be operated by Chennai-based Connect Maritime LLP through its Sri Lankan agent, IndSri Ferry Services Lanka Pvt. Ltd. It will use the M/V Beypore Sultan, a 2023-built feeder vessel with a capacity of 81 TEUs and a deadweight of 1,600 metric tonnes. The vessel is expected to follow a seven-day rotation across the route.
Trade and logistics benefits
The service is expected to support both Full Container Load and Less than Container Load shipments, with weekly sailings and cargo handling designed to improve reliability. Commercial details show freight charges in the range of 650 to 675 dollars per container, with pre-paid bookings required. Container Freight Station clearance will be handled through Pondicherry, and the first three days of demurrage will be free.
The launch is likely to strengthen maritime connectivity between southern India and northern and eastern Sri Lanka by offering a more direct logistics corridor for importers and exporters. Stakeholders in Jaffna were briefed ahead of the start of services as part of preparations for the new trade route.
