Kamarajar Port: 18 m Draft, Capesize Ready

Kamarajar Port gets 18-metre draft for Capesize vessels

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Asked by UPSCPrelims 20231 PYQ

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Prelims 2023Consider the following pairs: Kamarajar Port : First major port in India registered as a company …Solve with answer

Battle Brief

Kamarajar Port Limited finished Capital Dredging Phase VI at about ₹440 crore. Operational draft is now 18.0 metres, so the port can take fully laden Capesize vessels up to 1,70,000 DWT. It is India’s second Major Port after Visakhapatnam with an 18-metre draft.

Fact File

Port: Kamarajar Port (Ennore), Major Port
Project: Capital Dredging Phase VI; about ₹440 crore
Draft: 18.0 metres operational
Vessel class: fully laden Capesize up to 1,70,000 DWT
Peer: second Major Port after Visakhapatnam with 18 m draft
Deepening: outer channel 20.0 to 23.0 m; inner entrance 19.0 to 22.0 m

In the news

Kamarajar Port’s 18-metre draft: what happened?

Larger bulk ships need deeper channels. Capesize vessels cut freight per tonne when they can enter fully laden. Making Ennore Cape-compliant aims to lower logistics cost for regional EXIM cargo.

Deepened outer approach channel, inner entrance channel, berths and harbour basin for 18 m draft operations.
Framed under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 in the ministerial remarks.

Back Story

What does Cape-compliant mean here?

Depth and draft enough for Capesize bulkers.
Kamarajar can now take cargo parcels up to 1,70,000 DWT fully laden.

Why examiners care

Why does Kamarajar Port’s 18-metre draft matter?

Logistics: Larger parcels and scale economies on freight.
Port competition: Puts Ennore beside Vizag on deep-draft bulk handling.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on Kamarajar Port’s 18-metre draft?

Kamarajar Port: 18 m draft after Phase VI dredging (~₹440 crore).
Capesize up to 1,70,000 DWT; 2nd Major Port after Visakhapatnam.
Outer channel deepened 20 to 23 m; inner 19 to 22 m.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports, railways; investment models

As per PIB (2026-07-07): kamarajar Port (Ennore) became India's second major port with 18 m draft after ₹440 crore dredging, able to handle fully laden Capesize vessels up to 1,70,000 DWT.
Deeper drafts let bigger ships call, cutting bulk cargo costs.

Quotable data point
Kamarajar Port (Ennore) became India's second major port with 18 m draft after ₹440 crore dredging, able to handle fully laden Capesize vessels up to 1,70,000 DWT.
PIB: Shipping: Kamarajar Port draft, 7 Jul 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

After Phase VI dredging, Kamarajar Port's operational draft is

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB (Ports), 7 Jul 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What draft does Kamarajar Port now offer?

18.0 metres operational draft.

What is the dredging project cost cited?

About ₹440 crore for Capital Dredging Phase VI.

Which Major Port already had 18-metre draft?

Visakhapatnam Port.