karaikal_port_1 The Karaikal Port, in the east coast of India is now operational from April on completion Phase 1 development.The port is under development in three phases since 2006, to operate as a lagoon type deep water port, connected to sea by an entrance/access channel protected by short breakwaters.Phase 2 port development has already started.

On April 15, the port berthed the first cargo vessel, MV Beluga Fan Fare, a Heavy Lift Multipurpose Dry Cargo Vessel carrying two cargo cranes each weighing 104 tonnes for the port.

Some interesting features of Karaikal Port are:

  • Karaikal port is located at Vanjore, near Karaikal of Union Territory of Puducherry karaikal_port_2
    • around 320 km along the coast, south of Chennai Port
    • around 360 km along the coast, north of Tuticorin Port
    • nearest railhead is Nagore at a distance of 3 km 
    • connected by road to NH-45A, connecting Puducherry – Nagapattinam
    • covers an area of around 602 acres
  • Operated by Karaikal Port Private Ltd (KPPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Marg Ltd.
  • The Government of Puducherry entered into an agreement with Marg Ltd., on January 25, 2006 to develop the port on a Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) basis for 30 years.
  • Phase 1 development:
    • taken up during 2006-2008 and completed with an investment of INR 450 crore
    • two berths (coal and general cargo) to handle cargo of 5.2 MTPA
    • to berth vessels up to 50,000 DWT
    • present depth of 9.5 metres, will be increased to 14.5 metres by July
  • Phase 2A development:
    • being taken up during the period 2009-2011, to handle cargo of additional 15.3 MTPA with vessels up to 1,20,000 DWT
    • 3 additional berths for – coal, for OSV/PSV vessels, liquid/general cargo
    • increase water depth to 16.5 metres
    • breakwater extension, channel and turning circle widening
    • mechanization of coal berths
    • development of additional stockyards/storage facilities
    • construction of buildings and other civil works
    • construction of railway sidings & internal roads
    • development of utilities & services
    • with an investment of INR 1600 crore
  • Phase 2B development: to be taken up during 2015-2017, to handle cargo of total 46.9 MTPA with total nine berths.
  • KPPL has acquired a dredger with a dredging capacity of 2000 cubic metre/hour for port development.

Read more from The Hindu.

For more details on Karaikal Port, log on to Marg Karaikal Port.

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Rupees Ten Billion Shipyard to Come Up at Cuddalore

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