VOC Port adds direct Vietnam connectivity with maiden call of M.V. Haian Alfa

Summary

VOC Port has added direct connectivity to Vietnam through the maiden call of container vessel M.V. Haian Alfa at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) on 7 November 2026. Operating under the fortnightly Chennai–Vietnam (CVI) Service, the vessel connects Tuticorin with Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong in Vietnam, along with ports in China and Malaysia. The service is expected to expand shipping options for regional exporters and importers.

Article

V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin has added a direct shipping connection to Vietnam with the maiden call of container vessel M.V. Haian Alfa at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) on 7 November 2026. The vessel’s inclusion in the Chennai–Vietnam (CVI) Service is expected to expand container shipping options for exporters and importers in the port’s hinterland.

The Vietnamese-flagged M.V. Haian Alfa has a container capacity of 1,781 TEUs, a length overall (LOA) of 171.9 metres and a beam of 28.4 metres. Operated by Samsara Shipping Pvt. Ltd., the CVI Service connects Tuticorin and Chennai with Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong in Vietnam, Qinzhou in China and Port Klang in Malaysia before returning to Tuticorin.

Under the service schedule, transit time from Tuticorin is approximately seven days to Ho Chi Minh and ten days to Hai Phong. The service will operate fortnightly, providing regular container connectivity between the region and markets in Vietnam and Malaysia.

During its maiden call, M.V. Haian Alfa handled 823 TEUs of containers at DBGT. This comprised 723 TEUs of import containers, predominantly for VinFast, and 100 TEUs of transshipment containers destined for Colombo.

The new service is expected to support exports of regional commodities and manufactured products, including rice and cereal products, bone meal, raw cashew, seafood, cotton, yarn, chemicals, food items, beverages, coir products, coco peat and garments.

DBGT organised an event to mark the commencement of the service. Those present included Shri Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, VOC Port Authority; Shri Sudipta Banerjee, Traffic Manager, VOC Port Authority; Shri Senthilkumar Subramanian, CEO, Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal; Shri Bakshi Mohammed Hanif, General Manager, Samsara Group, Mumbai; and Capt. Nguyen Nam Tinh, captain of M.V. Haian Alfa, along with senior port officials and members of the maritime trade community.

VOC Port handled 5.16 lakh TEUs of container traffic between April and October 2026 in the financial year 2026–27, compared with 5.03 lakh TEUs during the corresponding period of the previous financial year. This represents a year-on-year increase of 2.56%.

DBGT operates a container terminal at VOC Port with a 335.5-metre berth, a draft of 14.2 metres and an annual handling capacity of 6 lakh TEUs. The addition of Tuticorin to the CVI Service is expected to provide additional shipping options for EXIM cargo and strengthen connections between industries in the port’s hinterland and international markets.

Shri Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, stated, “The maiden call of M.V. Haian Alfa at VOC Port marks an important step in strengthening our direct connectivity with Vietnam, facilitating the movement of cargo between the region and overseas markets. VOC Port remains committed to strengthening its infrastructure and maritime connectivity to support EXIM trade and the industrial growth of its hinterland.”

FAQs

Which vessel made its maiden call at VOC Port?

M.V. Haian Alfa, a Vietnamese-flagged container vessel with a capacity of 1,781 TEUs, made its maiden call at Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal on 7 November 2026.

Which shipping service connects VOC Port with Vietnam?

The Chennai–Vietnam (CVI) Service, operated by Samsara Shipping Pvt. Ltd., connects Tuticorin and Chennai with Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong in Vietnam, along with ports in China and Malaysia.

What is the transit time from Tuticorin to Vietnam?

The scheduled transit time is approximately seven days to Ho Chi Minh and ten days to Hai Phong.

How many containers did M.V. Haian Alfa handle during its maiden call?

The vessel handled 823 TEUs, comprising 723 TEUs of import containers and 100 TEUs of transshipment containers destined for Colombo.

How much container traffic did VOC Port handle during April–October 2026?

VOC Port handled 5.16 lakh TEUs during April–October 2026, registering a 2.56% increase compared with the corresponding period of the previous financial year.