VOC Port’s Heritage Museum Spotlights Ancient Trade Routes and Maritime Legacy

The newly inaugurated Maritime Heritage Museum at V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port will chronicle Tuticorin’s maritime history from 123 AD, showcasing ancient trade in pearls and spices with Rome, China, and Southeast Asia through pre- and post-colonial eras.

Dedicated to freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar—who boycotted British ships and founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906—the museum highlights the port’s evolution from pearl fishery hub to major anchorage in 1868, renamed VOC Port Authority in 2022.

Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as part of ₹1,500 crore projects, it aims to boost tourism, public awareness, and community ties while honoring India’s seafaring past amid current cargo growth of 6% to 35.97 MMT and 9.4% container rise to 7.16 lakh TEUs (Apr-Jan FY26).

VOC Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit emphasized its role in promoting the sector, now handling wind blades, coal, iron ore, and agri-products for Sri Lanka, Maldives, and coastal India.