HCMC — Chu Lai Port in Quang Nam Province has launched a direct shipping route to India, aiming to reduce transit time and logistics costs while improving cargo handling capacity in central Vietnam.
The new shipping route was inaugurated today, May 16, through a partnership between Regional Container Lines (RCL) and Chu Lai Port, operated by Thilogi under Truong Hai Group.
The move follows the completion of a dredging project at the Ky Ha shipping channel. The upgraded channel now meets technical requirements with a depth of 9.3 meters, a bottom width of 110 meters, and a total length of 11 kilometers, allowing vessels of up to 30,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) to dock.
Thilogi handed over the upgraded channel to the Vietnam Maritime Administration for management. The project complied with environmental standards and was funded without state reimbursement.
The channel upgrade is expected to ease vessel access and reduce dependence on tidal conditions. It also allows for more flexible port operations, especially during peak hours and nighttime, enabling Chu Lai Port to attract more international shipping lines.
Chu Lai Port received the Chana Bhum vessel, operated by RCL and registered in Singapore, as the first ship on the new route. The vessel carried around 800 containers of goods, including auto parts, garments, furniture, and agricultural products.
India is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in South Asia, accounting for nearly 80% of Vietnam’s exports to the region. The Chu Lai–India route will run twice monthly and is expected to facilitate trade not only with India but also with markets such as China, South Korea, and Japan.
The new service eliminates the need for transshipment through ports in northern or southern Vietnam, cutting costs and delivery time. It is also expected to support exports from central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, southern Laos, and northern Cambodia.
Chu Lai Port has also put a new tugboat into operation to support larger vessels. The tugboat, Chu Lai Port 02, measures 26.7 meters in length and has 2,200 horsepower. It complies with national maritime safety and environmental regulations.
The port upgrade is part of a long-term strategy to develop Chu Lai into a class-1 seaport and logistics hub under Vietnam’s master port plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan aims to increase cargo volume through Quang Nam’s ports to 8.5–10.3 million tons by 2030.
