Chennai Port (Tamil: ), formerly known as Madras Port, is the second largest port of India, behind the Mumbai

i Port, and the largest port in the Bay of Bengal. Being the third oldest port among the 12 major ports of India, it is over 125 years old, although maritime trade started way back in 1639 on the sea shore. It is an artificial and all-weather port with wet docks. It was a major travel port before becoming a major container port. It is a substantial reason for the economic growth of Tamil Nadu, especially for the manufacturing boom in South India, and has contributed in no small measure to the development of the city. It is due of the existence of the port that the city of Chennai became known as the Gateway of South India. The port with 3 docks, 24 berths and draft ranging from 12 to 16.5 m (39 to 54.1 ft) has become a hub port for containers, cars and project cargo in the east coast of India. Before 1800s Although the settlement of Madras did not form until after the mid-17th century, the region surrounding the present-day port remained an important centre for military, administrative, and economic activities since the 1st century AD under various South Indian dynasties, namely, the Pallava, the Pandya, the Chola, and the Vijayanagara empires.[8] Chief among them was the Pallava dynasty, which reigned from the 6th to 9th centuries AD. The ancient town of Mylapore, known to Roman traders as "Meliapor", was an important port of the Pallavas and is now part of Chennai.

The British era

Oil tanks on fire in the Madras Harbour following the bombardment by German light cruiser Emden on 22 September 1914

By the late 18th century, most of the southern region of India had been conquered by the British and Madras was established as the capital of the Madras Presidency.[18] During this period, the port flourished under British rule, becoming an important naval base and urban center. A port at Madras was first suggested by Warren Hastings in 1770 when he was posted here, who later became the first Governor General of India.[19] However, it was not until the 1850s that work began on a pier to berth vessels following suggestions from the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Till 1815, it was an open roadstead and exposed sandy coast, swept by occasional storms and monsoons. At the time, the natural harbor was so shallow that ships had to anchor over 1 km (0.62 mi) offshore, and cargo was delivered to and from the shore in masula boats[20] [21] and catamarans.[22] Cargo losses were high, and a 335 m (1,099 ft) iron-screw pile pier capable of berthing larger vessels was built perpendicular to the shore in 1861.

Chennai port
Country India

Location

Chennai (Madras)

Coordinates

13.08441N 80.2899ECoordinates:
N 80.2899E 13.08441

Details Opened Operated by Owned by 1881 Chennai Port Trust Chennai Port Trust, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India Type of harbor Coastal breakwater, artificial, large seaport Size of harbor Land area Size Available berths Employees Chairman 169.97 ha (420.0 acres) 237.54 ha (587.0 acres) 407.51 ha (1,007.0 acres) 26 8,000 (2004)[1] Atulya Mishra

Main trades

Automobiles, motorcycles and general industrial cargo including iron ore, granite, coal, fertilizers, petroleum products, and containers Major exports: Iron ore, leather, cotton textiles Major imports: Wheat, raw cotton, machinery, iron & steel

World Port Index Number UN/LOCODE

49450[2]

INMAA Statistics

Annual cargo tonnage

61.46 million (2010-2011)

Annualcontainervolume 1.523 million TEUs (2010-2011) Annual revenue 8,904.0 million

The future
A third box terminal has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure. This will require investment of US$800 million and will be offered as a build-operate-transfer project, as part of a 30-year concession. Construction will take seven years to complete and the deep-water container terminal will have a capacity of 4 million TEU.[106][107][108] The mega container terminal project, expected to be the single largest terminal ever built in India,[109] is to be developed north of existing Bharathi Dock with two new breakwaters (total length of 4.23 km (2.63 mi)), continuous quay length of 2 km (1.2 mi) with 22 m (72 ft) alongside depth (ultimate) and a basin area of 300 hectares and back up area of 100 hectares.[110] The gigantic proportions will feature 2 km quay length in a straight line at the new outer harbour, with a 2.75 km extension of the existing outer arm breakwater and a new northern breakwater of 1.73 km emanating from the eastern breakwater of the fishing harbour.[111] The project also involves converting waterfront into 225 acres of land. The other side of breakwater would be used by the port as a berth to handle oil vessels.[63] The project will be the first deep-water terminal of its kind in India and can handle ultra-large container ships of capacity over 15,000 TEUs and length of 400 m (1,300 ft). Overall project completion is expected by 2018. In September 2011, Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd (MPSEZ) emerged as the sole and lowest bidder for constructing the mega terminal.[63][112] Based on earlier projections, Chennai is expected to handle 5 million TEUs by 2017.