Kamarajar Port becomes India's second 18-metre draft port

Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) has completed its Capital Dredging Phase VI project, enabling the port to handle fully laden Capesize vessels with an operational draft of 18 metres. With the milestone, Kamarajar Port has become India's second major port, after Visakhapatnam Port, to offer an 18-metre draft, strengthening the country's maritime infrastructure and bulk cargo handling capabilities.

The ₹440-crore dredging project has transformed the port into a Cape Compliant facility capable of accommodating vessels carrying cargo parcels of up to 170,000 deadweight tonnes , allowing shipping lines to deploy larger vessels and improve economies of scale.

The project involved deepening the outer approach channel from 20 metres to 23 metres, the inner entrance channel from 19 metres to 22 metres, alongside berths to support an 18-metre operational draft, as well as dredging the harbour basin and associated navigational areas.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the achievement marks another milestone in India's efforts to build world-class maritime infrastructure under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 initiatives.

He said the enhanced draft capability would improve cargo-handling efficiency, lower logistics costs, strengthen ease of doing business and reinforce Kamarajar Port's role as a strategic gateway for India's export-import (EXIM) trade.

By enabling fully laden Capesize vessels to call at the port, the upgraded infrastructure is expected to reduce freight costs through economies of scale while increasing cargo throughput and operational efficiency. Larger vessels can transport significantly more cargo in a single voyage, reducing transportation costs per tonne and improving the competitiveness of Indian trade.

The enhanced capability is also expected to strengthen Kamarajar Port's position against domestic and international ports while supporting rising demand for bulk cargo movement. With Cape Compliant infrastructure now in place, the port joins a select group of deep-water ports capable of handling some of the world's largest bulk carriers, positioning it as an important hub for India's growing maritime trade and logistics sector.