The VOC Port in Thoothukudi in southern Tamil Nadu has registered a 40 per cent growth in LPG handling till July in this fiscal to 1,33,520 tonnes compared to the 95,364 tonnes in the same period last year.

Over the past five years, LPG handling at the port has been growing steadily, increasing from 0.58 lakh tonnes in 2020–21, to 0.70 lakh tonnes in 2021–22, 0.94 lakh tonnes in 2022–23, 2.98 lakh tonnes in 2023–24, and reached a largest 4.02 lakh tonnes in 2024–25, a statement from VOC said.

The port’s oil jetty is equipped with a berth having a quay length of 150 m and a draft of 13 m, capable of handling vessels with a Length Overall (LOA) ranging from 150 to 230 m. At present, the oil jetty can accommodate vessels up to 40,000 dead weight tonne (DWT).

To further enhance its capacity, the Port is upgrading the facility by constructing new berthing dolphins within the existing structure, enabling it to handle vessels up to 55,000 DWT.

As per VOC Port, the major companies that handle LPG through the port include SHV Energy Pvt. Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (Tuticorin), and SHV Gas Supply & Risk Management.

Alongside LPG, the port also recorded a steady increase in overall liquid cargo handling. Volumes have steadily risen from 15.24 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, to 16.29 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, and further to 18.79 lakh tonnes in 2024–25. Some of the major companies handling liquid cargo through the port include Greenstar Fertilizers Limited, Southern Petrochemical Industries, DCW Ltd., K.T.V. Health Food Pvt. Ltd., and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., the press note from VOC Port said.

Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson of VOC Port Authority said that the oil jetty is being upgraded by strengthening the berth so that it can handle both smaller and larger ships. 

Source: The Hindu Business Line 

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