Major Sea Ports in India 2024: Complete Notes

Understanding India’s major sea ports is essential for students preparing for competitive exams like SSC, UPSC, Railway, and state PSCs. These ports play a key role in India’s economy, trade, and strategic connections.

In this article, we will explore the importance, locations, and features of India’s major sea ports, from well-known ones like Mumbai and Chennai to smaller but important ports. We’ll look at their history, current infrastructure, and how they contribute to global trade.

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How many Seaports are there in India?

• India has 13 major ports and around 200 non-major (minor) ports along its coastline.

• Major ports are managed by the Ministry of Shipping, while non-major ports are controlled by state governments or State Maritime Boards.

• All 13 major ports are fully operational and are key to India’s maritime trade.

• About 65 out of 200 non-major ports handle cargo, while others are used mainly for fishing vessels and small ferries for passenger transport.

• Maharashtra has the most ports with 53, followed by Gujarat with 40, Tamil Nadu with 15, and Karnataka with 10. The remaining 82 ports are in other states.

• Around 95% of India’s trade volume and 70% of its trade value move through sea routes.

• India once had 14 major ports, but Port Blair Port lost its status as a major port due to low container traffic.

• The Sagarmala project has been launched to improve and modernize India’s port infrastructure.

• The Indian government allows up to 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in port and harbour construction through the automatic route.

• Vadhavan Port, a proposed deep sea port in Vadhavan, Palghar district (Maharashtra), will be India’s 14th major port once completed.

List of Major Sea Ports in India

Major Sea Ports in India Map

State-Wise Ports in India

Zone-wise List of Major Ports in India

Key Facts About Major Sea Ports in India

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

• Kolkata Port is officially known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.

• It is the only riverine port in India, located on the left bank of the Hooghly River.

• Kolkata Port handles goods from countries like South-East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

• It is called the ‘Gateway to Eastern India’.

• Major exports include jute products, tea, coal, steel, iron ore, copper, leather, and leather products.

• Major imports consist of machinery, crude oil, paper, fertilizers, and chemical products.

• The port has two main dock systems:
  • Kolkata Docks in Kolkata.
  • A deep-water dock complex at Haldia Dock Complex.

• It serves a large hinterland, covering North East India, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, the North East Hill States, and the landlocked countries Nepal and Bhutan.

Haldia Dock Complex

• Haldia Port was built at the confluence of the Hooghly and Haldi Rivers.
• Its main purpose is to reduce congestion at Kolkata Port.
• The main items traded at Haldia Port are mineral oil and petroleum products.

Paradip Port

• Paradip Port was established by Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha.

• It is the only Principal Port in the state of Odisha.

• The port is a natural, deepwater port located in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha, on the eastern coast of India.

• On 1st June 1965, the Government of India took over the management of the port from the Government of Odisha.

• On 18th April 1966, the Government of India declared Paradip Port as the 8th major port of India.

• The port serves a vast hinterland, covering states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

• Paradip Port has an advantage of soft underwater soil, allowing it to operate at any depth by easily cutting the soft soil as needed.

Visakhapatnam Port

• Visakhapatnam Port is the largest port on the eastern coast of India, located in Andhra Pradesh.

• By cargo volume, it is India’s third-largest state-owned port and the largest on the Eastern Coast.

• Visakhapatnam Port has an ancient history, with trade relations with the Middle East and Rome.

Kamarajar Port

• Kamarajar Port was formerly known as Ennore Port.

• It is located on the Coromandel Coast near Chennai.

• Kamarajar Port is the 12th major port in India.

• It is the first public company port in India.

Chennai Port

• Chennai Port is the third oldest key port among the 13 major ports in India.

• The port was previously known as Madras Port.

• After Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port, it is India’s second-largest container port.

• Chennai Port is an all-weather artificial port with wet docks.

V. O. Chidambaram Port

• V. O. Chidambaram Port is the second-largest port in Tamil Nadu and the third-largest container terminal in India.

• It is an artificial port.

• The port is strategically located close to the East-West International Sea Route.

• It services countries like the USA, China, Europe, Sri Lanka, and Mediterranean countries.

Cochin Port

• Cochin Port (also called Kochi Port) is a major port on the Arabian Sea, Laccadive Sea, and Indian Ocean sea-route, located in Kochi, Ernakulam district, Kerala.

• It is one of the largest ports in India.

• The Vallarpadam container terminal, part of Cochin Port, is the first transshipment port in India.

• The port lies on two islands in Vembanadu Lake: Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam, near the Fort Kochi river mouth, opening onto the Laccadive Sea.

• The port is governed by the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA), a Government of India establishment.

• Established in 1928, the port has been in active service for over 90 years.

• Kochi Port is part of a group of maritime-related facilities in Kochi, including:
  • Cochin Shipyard (the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India),
  • SPM (Single Point Mooring) facility of Kochi Refineries (offshore crude carrier mooring),
  • Kochi Marina.

New Mangalore Port

• New Mangalore Port is the only major port in the state of Karnataka.

• It was declared as the 9th Major Port on 4th May 1974.

• Major commodities imported through the port include cement, coal, fertilizer, edible oil, liquid chemicals, and containerized cargo.

• The hinterland of New Mangalore Port covers Karnataka and the northern part of Kerala.

• Its main importance is in the export of iron ore from the Kudremukh mines.

Marmagao Port

• Mormugao Port was developed by the Portuguese as an iron ore terminal due to the rise of iron ore mining in Goa.

• The port is located at the entrance of the Zuvari estuary.

• Major exports include iron ore, manganese, coconut, and cotton.

• The hinterland of the port is small, covering Goa, parts of north Karnataka, and southern Maharashtra.

• The port is well connected through the Konkan Railway.

Mumbai Port

• Mumbai Port is a natural harbour on the west coast of India.

• It is considered the biggest port in India.

• The port handles foreign trade with Western countries and East African countries.

• It has a vast hinterland, covering the whole of Maharashtra and large parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port was formerly known as Nhava Sheva Port.

• The port is built on an island called Nhava Sheva, across from the famous Elephanta Caves.

• The main purpose of this port is to reduce pressure on Mumbai Port.

• Nhava Sheva Port is considered the largest container port in India.

Deendayal Port

• Formerly known as Kandla Port, it is now called Deendayal Port.

• Located on the Gulf of Kutch, in Kutch district, Gujarat.

• Kandla Port was built in 1950 and is a natural harbour in Kandala Creek.

• It was built to serve Western India, after the partition of India left the Karachi Port in Pakistan.

• The first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in India and Asia, Kandla Port Special Economic Zone (KASEZ), was established here.

• Kandla Port was also the first Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in India.

• The port’s hinterland covers Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.

• Major imports handled at Kandla Port include petroleum, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery. It also handles salt, textiles, and grain.

New Vadhavan Port

Key Details About Vadhavan Port

• Location: Proposed deep-sea port in Vadhavan, Palghar district, Maharashtra, on the Arabian Sea coast.

• Development Authority: Construction led by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

• Unique Feature: It will be India’s first offshore port built on an artificial island.

• Mother Port Status: Vadhavan will become India’s second Mother Port after Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala.

• Estimated Cost: The construction is projected to cost ₹76,220 crore (approximately US$9.1 billion).

• Construction Body: Managed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited, a special-purpose vehicle:
  • 74% stake: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
  • 26% stake: Maharashtra Maritime Board.

Port Infrastructure

• Artificial Harbour: The port will feature an artificial harbour with berths surrounded by a breakwater and an open-sea outer channel.

• Cargo Handling Facilities: Includes container berths, liquid berths, ro-ro berths, and multipurpose cargo berths.

• Navigable Depth:
  • Natural depth of 20 meters (66 ft) within 10 km from the Vadhaban Point, enabling large ship operations.
  • Capable of accommodating Panamax and Capesize vessels.

Significance

• Aims to boost India’s maritime trade capacity by becoming a critical hub for large cargo ships.

• Expected to enhance global trade links and reduce pressure on existing ports like Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

Government Initiatives for the Port Sector

• Union Budget 2021 allocated funds for expanding shipping and inland waterways infrastructure and ₹2,000 crores for PPP models in major ports.

• The Make in India initiative is being promoted by revising Right of First Refusal (ROFR) conditions to prioritize vessels built in India, flagged in India, and owned by Indians for chartering.

• A National Logistics Portal (Marine) will be developed to help exporters, importers, and service providers.

• The Ministry of Shipping has created a dispute redressal portal, SAROD-Ports, to resolve issues for private players in the shipping sector.

• The Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 was passed by Parliament, repealing the Major Ports Trust Act of 1963 and establishing a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port.

Previous Year Questions

1. Which of the following industries are the major beneficiaries of the Mumbai port? [SSC Tax Assistant 2006]
A. Iron and Steel industry
B. Sugar and Cotton textile industry
C. Cotton textile and Petrochemical industry
D. Engineering and Fertilizer industry

2. Which two ports is Kudremukh Iron-ore exported from? [SSC Combined Matric Level (PRE) 2002]
A. Kandla and Mumbai
B. Marmugoa and Mangalore
C. Kochi and Tuticorin
D. Paradip and Kolkata

3. Which port in India has a free trade zone? [SSC Combined Matric Level (PRE) 2002]
A. Kochi
B. Paradip
C. Kandla
D. Tuticorin

4. Which of the following ports has the largest hinterland? [SSC Section Officer (Commercial Audit) 2007]
A. Kandla
B. Kochi
C. Mumbai
D. Visakhapatnam

5. Which of the following is a major port on the East Coast of India? [SSC CPO 2011]
A. Kandla
B. Vishakhapatnam
C. Karikal
D. Pondicherry (Puducherry)

6. Which one of the following ports is located on the eastern coast of India? [SSC Combined Matric Level (PRE) 2001]
A. Kandla
B. Kochi
C. Mormugao
D. Paradeep

7. Which of the following is an inland river port? [SSC Combined Matric Level (PRE) 2002]
A. Kolkata
B. Mumbai
C. Chennai
D. Tuticorin

8. The ports located along the eastern coast of India are: [SSC Stenographer (Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’) 2010]
A. Kandla and Haldia
B. Haldia arid Cochin
C. Paradeep and Kandla
D. Paradeep and Haldia

9. Which is the artificial port of India? [SSC (10+2) Level Data Entry Operator & LDC 2011]
A. Kandla
B. Mangalore
C. Chennai or Madras
D. Haldia

10. How many major sea ports are there in India? [(SSC (10+2) 2011)]
A. 6
B. 12
C. 10
D. 13

Key Features of Major Sea Ports in India

• Strategic Locations: Major ports are located along India’s coastline in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

• Types of Ports: They include natural ports, artificial ports, and tidal ports, each designed for specific purposes.

• Cargo Handling: These ports handle a variety of goods, including iron ore, coal, steel, spices, tea, and coffee.

• Modern Infrastructure: Equipped with advanced facilities, docks, and handling systems to ensure smooth cargo operations.

• Container Management: Ports like Jawaharlal Nehru Port specialize in handling large volumes of container traffic.

• Economic Importance: Major ports significantly boost India’s import-export trade and contribute to the country’s GDP.

• Job Creation: Ports provide many job opportunities in sectors like shipping, logistics, and warehousing.

• Efficient Connectivity: Well-connected to the hinterlands through strong road and rail networks for easy transport of goods.

• Government Oversight: Most major ports are owned and operated by the government for effective management.

• Global Trade Links: Serve as crucial hubs for India’s trade with international partners, strengthening global ties.

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