Tuticorin International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, a private container handling facility in South India, owned by J M Baxi Ports & Logistics, commenced operations on September 16. Marking the milestone, the Hong Kong-flagged Rio Grande Express, operated by German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, became the first vessel to berth at the terminal. Hapag-Lloyd AG holds a 40% stake in J M Baxi Ports & Logistics, having added a 35% stake in February 2023.  The move was described at the time as an important step aimed at helping expand Hapag-Lloyd’s presence in India.

India’s Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, alongside Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur,  flagged off the maiden container vessel from Tuticorin International Container Terminal earlier today following an official inauguration ceremony.

“As the PM always remarks this is the time for us to start a new journey for ‘Brand India’, and establish a new identity of quality and reliability. Therefore, under the guidance of Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal,  this project is expected to stimulate regional economic growth by attracting more trade and investment in this area and support ancillary industries such as logistics and warehousing,” Thakur said at the ceremony.

The terminal features three rail-mounted quay cranes with a twin-lifting capacity of 65 tons and an outreach of 58 meters, nine electric RTGs and an electric reach stacker. Furthermore, J M Baxi Ports & Logistics said that around 40%% of the employees at the terminal will be women. The company pointed out that Tuticorin Container Terminal will be the essential east-west gateway, connecting key trade routes: Gulf, Suez, Africa, Australia, and South-East Asia.

VOC Port welcomes the first container vessel ‘Rio Grande Express’ to Tuticorin International Container Terminal at VOC Port.

The 260 metre long mainline container vessel has the capacity to carry 4250 TEUs of containers.

Port Rotation ;
Rotterdam -> London Gateway ->… pic.twitter.com/hwwk9xRnDd

— V.O.Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin (@vocpa_tuticorin) September 15, 2024

Maritime History Made Today! Union Minister Shri @sarbanandsonwal, joined by MoS Shri @Shantanu_bjp, flagged off the maiden container vessel from Tuticorin International Container Terminal, marking a major milestone in India's maritime infrastructure development. @vocpa_tuticorin pic.twitter.com/fWoaEAtaML

— Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) September 16, 2024

Tuticorin International Container Terminal was developed by converting Berth No. 9 at the state-owned V. O. Chidambaranar Port following a concession agreement signed between V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Tuticorin, and Tuticorin International Container Terminal Private Limited (TICTPL) in September 2022. The RS 434.17 crore investment aimed to develop the container facility to handle 600,000 TEU per annum. The project was executed on a DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer) basis, ahead of the planned construction deadline which was set for December 2024. The terminal, with a length of 370 metres and a draft of 14.20 metres, is designed to accommodate vessels up to 8,000 TEU. The port’s two existing terminals, PSA SICAL Terminals Ltd and Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd, have the capacity to handle a combined 1.2 million TEU.

Tuticorin International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, a private container handling facility in South India, owned by J M Baxi Ports & Logistics, commenced operations on September 16. Marking the milestone, the Hong Kong-flagged Rio Grande Express, operated by German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, became the first vessel to berth at the terminal. Hapag-Lloyd AG holds a 40% stake in J M Baxi Ports & Logistics, having added a 35% stake in February 2023.  The move was described at the time as an important step aimed at helping expand Hapag-Lloyd’s presence in India.

India’s Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, alongside Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur,  flagged off the maiden container vessel from Tuticorin International Container Terminal earlier today following an official inauguration ceremony.

“As the PM always remarks this is the time for us to start a new journey for ‘Brand India’, and establish a new identity of quality and reliability. Therefore, under the guidance of Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal,  this project is expected to stimulate regional economic growth by attracting more trade and investment in this area and support ancillary industries such as logistics and warehousing,” Thakur said at the ceremony.

The terminal features three rail-mounted quay cranes with a twin-lifting capacity of 65 tons and an outreach of 58 meters, nine electric RTGs and an electric reach stacker. Furthermore, J M Baxi Ports & Logistics said that around 40%% of the employees at the terminal will be women. The company pointed out that Tuticorin Container Terminal will be the essential east-west gateway, connecting key trade routes: Gulf, Suez, Africa, Australia, and South-East Asia.

VOC Port welcomes the first container vessel ‘Rio Grande Express’ to Tuticorin International Container Terminal at VOC Port.

The 260 metre long mainline container vessel has the capacity to carry 4250 TEUs of containers.

Port Rotation ;
Rotterdam -> London Gateway ->… pic.twitter.com/hwwk9xRnDd

— V.O.Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin (@vocpa_tuticorin) September 15, 2024

Maritime History Made Today! Union Minister Shri @sarbanandsonwal, joined by MoS Shri @Shantanu_bjp, flagged off the maiden container vessel from Tuticorin International Container Terminal, marking a major milestone in India's maritime infrastructure development. @vocpa_tuticorin pic.twitter.com/fWoaEAtaML

— Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) September 16, 2024

Tuticorin International Container Terminal was developed by converting Berth No. 9 at the state-owned V. O. Chidambaranar Port following a concession agreement signed between V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Tuticorin, and Tuticorin International Container Terminal Private Limited (TICTPL) in September 2022. The RS 434.17 crore investment aimed to develop the container facility to handle 600,000 TEU per annum. The project was executed on a DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer) basis, ahead of the planned construction deadline which was set for December 2024. The terminal, with a length of 370 metres and a draft of 14.20 metres, is designed to accommodate vessels up to 8,000 TEU. The port’s two existing terminals, PSA SICAL Terminals Ltd and Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd, have the capacity to handle a combined 1.2 million TEU.