V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin, achieved a major milestone with the successful berthing of M.V. MSC Michaela, with Length Overall (LOA) of 304 metres and Beam of 40 metres, at the Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal on December 21, 2025. This landmark event marks the arrival of the longest container vessel and the highest container-carrying capacity vessel with 6,724 TEUs of containers, ever to berth at the port, underscoring its growing prominence in India’s maritime sector.
The progression from handling M.V. MSC Petra with a Length Overall (LOA) of 299.5 metres in May 2022 to the successful arrival of M.V. MSC Michaela, highlights the substantial enhancement of V.O. Chidambaranar Port’s operational capabilities. MSC Michaela, which arrived from the Port of Colón, Panama, and is scheduled to sail to Colombo, Sri Lanka, is handling a total of 3,977 TEUs at the port. This includes 2,676 TEUs of import containers, 1,104 TEUs of export containers, 148 TEUs involving restow operations, and 49 TEUs of transhipment containers.
It is noteworthy that during the current financial year up to November 2025–26, the port handled 5,62,928 TEUs of containers, as against 5,20,919 TEUs in the corresponding period of 2024–25, registering an increase of 8.06%. In the commemorative event held at V.O. Chidambaranar Port’s DGBT container terminal, Sushant Kumar Purohit IRSEE, Chairperson, VOC Port, stated that the successful handling of M.V. MSC Michaela reflects the Port’s recent infrastructure upgrades such as enhancing the maximum draft to 14.20 meters, widening the turning circle of the Port’s basin from 488 metres to 550 metres, operationalisation of the DPE facility, and the recent induction of 4th tug with 60 Tonne Bollar Pull to manoeuvre large container vessels. He further stated that the upcoming Outer Harbour project will significantly strengthen VOC Port’s position as a key maritime gateway for South India. The event was graced by Sushant Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, VOC Port, Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, P. Kavin Maharaj, Chief Vigilance Officer, Vikas Nair, Customs Commissioner, Tuticorin, Vujnovic Tripo, Captain of the vessel, Senthil Kumar, CEO, DBGT Terminal, Benny George, Sr. General Manager, MSC Agency India Limited, senior officials from Port and delegates from trade bodies.
