The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, on February 9, 2026 successfully hosted a high-level pre-event to the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, titled "AI in Ports and Maritime Operations: Practice, Policy and Future". The pre-summit day-long programme brought together senior policymakers, port authorities, technology leaders, and academic experts for focused discussions on the practical and policy dimensions of artificial intelligence in India's maritime ecosystem. The event aligns with the national vision for technology-led growth under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which sets out the roadmap for modernising Indian ports through digital, green, and safe operations. The opening remarks were delivered virtually by Shri Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, who underscored the strategic importance of AI in improving efficiency, safety, and global competitiveness across Indian ports. A defining highlight of the pre-event was the live demonstration of real, operational AI use cases currently deployed at VOC Port, giving participants direct insight into applied AI within a live port environment rather than theoretical pilots. Sessions examined operational optimisation, safety, resilience, and policy readiness, and explicitly moved beyond concept and pilot stages to deployed field systems. VOC Port will follow up on February 17, 2026 with a panel titled "AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations" at the IndiaAI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, building on insights from the Tuticorin pre-event. The IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 is being hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology through the IndiaAI Mission and is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a major platform for the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.