Container cargo ferry service between India and Sri Lanka to begin in September

July 13 (Daily Mirror) - A new container cargo ferry service connecting Karaikal in India with Kankesanthurai (KKS) and Trincomalee in Sri Lanka is scheduled to commence in late August or early September 2026, offering regular maritime freight services between the two countries.

The service will be operated by Chennai-based Connect Maritime LLP, through its Sri Lankan agent IndSri Ferry Services Lanka Pvt. Ltd.

According to the company, the service will provide Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) transport with weekly scheduled sailings, competitive freight rates and secure cargo handling.

The operations will be carried out using the M/V Beypore Sultan, a container feeder vessel built in 2023 with a carrying capacity of 81 TEUs and a deadweight of 1,600 metric tonnes. The vessel is expected to operate on a seven-day rotation across the Palk Strait.

The company has released a provisional sailing schedule beginning on September 1, 2026, with weekly departures from Karaikal and arrivals at Kankesanthurai, while additional voyages are planned through the end of December 2026 to ensure uninterrupted service.

Commercial terms indicate freight charges ranging between US$650 and US$675 per container, with prepaid bookings required. Container Freight Station (CFS) clearance will be handled through Pondicherry, while the first three days of container demurrage will be free of charge.

Ahead of the launch, the company held an awareness session for importers and other stakeholders in Jaffna to outline the proposed service and its commercial arrangements.

The new cargo link is expected to strengthen trade connectivity between southern India and northern and eastern Sri Lanka by providing a dedicated maritime logistics corridor for importers and exporters.