Direct Shipping Service between ‘Tuticorin-Maldives’ Launched

The service inducted under Prime Minister ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ is scheduled to make 3 calls a month on rotation

Padmesh Prabhune

‘M.V. MSS Galena’ from V.O. Chidambaranar Port, the first direct shipping service between Tuticorin & the Maldives, reached Male on May 7, 2023.

Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, flagged off the vessel ‘M.V. MSS Galena’ from V.O. Chidambaranar Port, as the Direct Shipping Service between Tuticorin to Maldives on May 05, 2023. The rotation of this shipping service is Tuticorin – Male – Tuticorin, and is scheduled to make 3 calls a month.

The service inducted under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and the vision of Security and Growth for all in the Region to give impetus to bilateral trade between India & Maldives will not only cut logistic costs but will also reduce time with  enhanced connectivity for transporting goods between the two countries.

The vessel ‘M.V. MSS Galena’ with carrying capacity of 421 TEUs of containers & provision to carry bulk cargo, deployed by The Shipping Corporation of India, had earlier arrived at PSA SICAL Container Terminal on May 4 2023.  It was loaded with 270 TEUs.

Speaking of the service, Shri Shantanu Thakur said, “We are determined under the leadership of the Prime Minister and under the guidance of Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, that co-operative efforts will grow the trade and maritime sectors of our nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and across the globe.”

Earlier the bulk cargoes bound to Maldives from Tuticorin were sent through barges & sailing ships and the containers bound for Maldives were routed through Colombo.

Marex Media