The VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port at Tuticorin has handled 449,514 TEUs till March 21 this year, according to Exim News Service.

The Port's container terminal has been run by PSA Sical Terminals Ltd, a joint venture of Port of Singapore Authority and South India Corporation Agencies Pvt. Ltd, since 1999.

Mr A. Subbiah, Chairman of VOC Port Trust, said that the Port had crossed the target of 445,000 TEUs as set by the Shipping Ministry for the current fiscal. "The Port has created a new record, beating the previous record of 450,398 TEUs handled in 2007-08," Mr Subbiah pointed out.

The large variety of import cargo handled by the Port included granite products, textile machinery, polyester products, raw cashew, raw cotton, waste paper, food products, wheat products, rubber products and cotton fabrics. As regards export cargo, the Port handled sugar, paper products, granite items, tiles, garnets, sand, garments, chemicals, cotton yarn, cotton piece goods, copper products, coir products, charcoal, egg products, frozen seafood, ilmenite sand, safety matches, salt and tyres.

This accomplishment was made possible by the steady performance of the container terminal, which is aided by about 12 private container freight stations in and around the Port, feeder operators, as also cooperation from resourceful Customs house agents, port officers, employees, labour pool officers and labourers, besides first-rate facilities at the port and the backing of the Customs Department.