en.Wedoany.com Reported - A new container cargo ferry route connecting India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to commence operations by the end of August or early September 2026. The service will provide regular freight runs across the Palk Strait, linking Karaikal in India with Kankesanthurai and Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, establishing a dedicated logistics corridor for containerized cargo.

The route is operated by Chennai-based Connect Maritime LLP, with its agent in Sri Lanka being IndSri Ferry Services Lanka Pvt. Ltd. The vessel deployed is the 2023-built feeder ship M/V Beypore Sultan, with a designed capacity of 81 TEUs and a deadweight tonnage of 1,600 metric tons. The ship is planned to operate on a seven-day voyage cycle.

The service supports both full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) cargo, with cargo handling procedures focused on enhancing reliability. Commercial terms indicate a freight rate of between USD 650 and USD 675 per container, requiring advance booking. Customs clearance at the container freight station will be processed through Puducherry, with the first three days free of detention charges.

The launch of this new route is expected to provide a more direct logistics corridor for importers and exporters, strengthening maritime connectivity between southern India and northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Ahead of the service launch, the operator has briefed relevant stakeholders in Jaffna as part of the preparatory work for this trade route.