The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is set to launch a coastal container shipping service between Kandla Port and VOC Port in Thoothukudi. This initiative will be facilitated by re-routing the SCI Middle East India Liner Express (SMILE) service, which will rotate through Pipavav, Kandla, Tuticorin, Cochin, and back to Pipavav. The inaugural ship is scheduled to arrive in Thoothukudi on June 16.
The new service aims to improve coastal connectivity between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. It will support the transport of commodities like raw cotton and chemicals from Gujarat and solar panels, tyres, and machinery spares from Tamil Nadu, as stated by the VOC Port Authority. The existing SMILE service connects various ports, including Cochin, Tuticorin, Colombo, Mundra, and Jebel Ali.
Discussions regarding the launch of the direct coastal service were held between SCI Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit and Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh (Retd), along with senior officials from SCI and the port. As of the latest update, SCI’s share price on the NSE closed at ₹210.69, reflecting a decrease of ₹4.44 (-2.06 percent).
