Kamarajar Port in North Chennai has achieved an 18-metre draft, making it the second major Indian port after Visakhapatnam to accommodate vessels of this depth.
The milestone enhances the facility's ability to handle larger cargo ships, directly addressing capacity constraints that have historically limited throughput at smaller Indian ports.
The deeper draft is a critical infrastructure improvement for global shipping lines, which increasingly deploy larger vessels to optimize economies of scale.
By matching the draft capabilities of Visakhapatnam, Kamarajar Port becomes a more viable option for major trade routes, potentially reducing congestion at other hubs and lowering logistics costs for importers and exporters.
This development aligns with broader efforts to modernize India's port infrastructure.
Previous reports indicated that five companies, including international operators, have expressed interest in developing bulk terminals at Kamarajar Port through public-private partnership models.