TCI Seaways, a division of Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCI), has taken delivery of a 500 TEU container vessel, TCI SETU, on October 29, 2026, strengthening its capacity to meet India’s growing coastal freight requirements.
With a deadweight capacity of approximately 7,300 metric tonnes, TCI SETU is the seventh vessel in the company’s fleet, which previously comprised six ships. The vessel is expected to strengthen operations along India’s East Coast, connecting Chennai, Visakhapatnam, the Andaman Islands and Myanmar.
Built by TaizhouSanfu Ship Engineering Co. Ltd. in China, the vessel is designed to ensure operational reliability, economic efficiency and low-carbon performance. The investment of ₹178.8 crore has been funded entirely through internal accruals. It is the first of two vessels contracted from the shipyard.
TCI Managing Director Vineet Agarwal said coastal shipping was a critical pillar of India’s future logistics infrastructure, adding that the new vessel would support sustainable transportation and integrated road, rail and coastal shipping operations.
In Agartala, the fleet expansion could strengthen multimodal freight opportunities through improved connectivity with ports, particularly for businesses dependent on the movement of goods between Northeast India and other parts of the country. Greater coastal shipping capacity could also support more cost-effective logistics for regional traders and industries.
TCI Seaways said it would continue investing in modern vessels and multimodal connectivity to promote greener and more efficient logistics.
