The Tuticorin Port was declared the 10th Major Port of India with the commissioning of the temporary oil mooring berth at north breakwater on the 11th July, 1974. The first two alongside berths were inaugurated by Shri H.M. Trivedi, the then Union Minister of State for Shipping and Transport, on the 2nd December, 1975, and the remaining two berths were commissioned in December 1976.

The Minor Port at Tuticorin which was under the State Government and the Tuticorin New Port which was under the Government of India, were merged under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, with effect from the Ist of April, 1979. As a mark of paying tribute to the legendary freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar Port who plied the first swadeshi Ship from Tuticorin to Colombo during the 1907, Tuticorin Port Trust was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port on 19.02.2011.

Consequent to the repeal of the Major Port Trust Act, 1963, V.O.Chidambaranar Port Trust was renamed as  V.O.Chidambaranar Port Authority, w.e.f. 03.11.2021