Kamarajar Port becomes India's second major port with 18 metre draft

Tamil Nadu's Kamarajar Port has become India's second major port after Visakhapatnam Port to achieve an operational draft of 18 metres, enabling it to handle fully laden Capesize vessels of up to 1,70,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and strengthening the country's maritime infrastructure, according to agency reports.The milestone was achieved following the completion of the Capital Dredging Phase VI project, undertaken at an investment of around Rs440 crore. The project has transformed Kamarajar Port into a deep-water, Cape Compliant port capable of accommodating some of the world's largest bulk cargo vessels.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the achievement reflects India's commitment to developing world-class maritime infrastructure under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.He said the enhanced draft would improve cargo-handling efficiency, reduce logistics costs, strengthen ease of doing business and further position India as a competitive global maritime hub. Sonowal added that the development aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernise the country's ports and boost external trade.
The dredging project involved deepening the approach and entrance channels, upgrading navigational areas and increasing the draft alongside berths to 18 metres, allowing larger vessels to operate more efficiently.According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the increased draft capability will enable shipping lines to deploy bigger ships, lowering freight costs through economies of scale while enhancing cargo capacity and operational efficiency. The upgrade is also expected to boost regional trade and support the growing requirements of India's export-import (EXIM) sector.