Kamarajar Port Achieves 18-Meter Operational Draft Capability

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Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) has successfully finished its Phase VI capital dredging project. This achievement makes it India's second major port, following Visakhapatnam, capable of accommodating ships requiring an 18-meter draft.

Formerly known as Ennore Port Limited, it stands as India's first corporatized major port. It functions under the Landlord Port Model, meaning the port authority maintains basic infrastructure while private partners operate terminals through PPP agreements.
Geographically, the port is situated along the eastern coast of India on the Coromandel Coast.
It sits roughly 24 kilometers north of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The central government officially named it India's 12th Major Port under the Indian Ports Act, 1908 in March 1999.
It gained corporate status in October 1999 following the guidelines of the Companies Act, 1956.
Commercial operations started on February 1, 2001, operating mainly to import thermal coal for TANGEDCO power stations.
Officials later renamed the facility to honor K. Kamaraj, the famous freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Two massive breakwaters protect this artificial deep-water harbor, creating calm waters that ensure safe ship handling all year round.
The Phase VI dredging project deepened navigation channels, allowing massive Cape-size vessels to dock with an 18-meter operational draft.
The port currently operates 9 active berths, with specialized terminals handling thermal and non-TNEB bulk coal.
Dedicated berths manage shipments of liquid chemicals and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Specialized berths handle standard cargo containers and general break-bulk shipments efficiently.
The port provides dedicated berth facilities for automobile cargo handling.
Strong rail, road, VTMS, and storage infrastructure support all-weather operations and cut vessel turnaround times significantly.

Increasing the draft depth aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, helping transform Kamarajar Port into a global mega port.
Direct docking of fully loaded Capesize vessels reduces reliance on foreign transshipment ports, thereby cutting overall shipping expenses for Indian merchants.