Chennai–Ranong Shipping Link in Focus to Boost India–Thailand Trade
CHENNAI: India–Thailand maritime connectivity could receive a boost with TCI Seaways, a division of Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), exploring a proposed dedicated shipping service between Chennai and Ranong, Thailand, under the BIMSTEC trade initiative.
According to a post shared by Chennai Port Authority, a delegation led by Mr. R. U. Singh, President & CEO, TCI Seaways, met Shri Sachin S. Kurve, IAS, Chairman, Chennai Port Authority, to discuss the proposed service and opportunities to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions focused on improving shipping connectivity, facilitating bilateral trade and developing efficient maritime logistics solutions to support regional commerce.
If implemented, the proposed Chennai–Ranong service could provide an additional shipping link between India and Thailand, strengthen port-to-port cooperation and create new opportunities for businesses and logistics operators. It could also support more integrated regional supply chains and improve cargo connectivity across the Bay of Bengal.
The initiative aligns with BIMSTEC’s broader objectives of promoting regional trade, transport connectivity and economic cooperation among countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal.
While the service remains at the proposal stage, the discussions mark a step towards exploring stronger maritime links between India and Thailand, with the potential to expand trade opportunities and reinforce Chennai’s role in regional shipping and logistics networks.
