Kamarajar Port achieves 18m draft

Kamarajar Port (KPL) in Tamil Nadu completed its Capital Dredging Phase VI project at a cost of Rs 440 crore, deepening the outer approach channel to 23 meters and achieving an operational draft of 18 meters. This makes it India's second major port after India — Visakhapatnam Port Authority to handle fully laden Capesize vessels of up to 170,000 DWT. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the milestone as a step toward making India a global maritime powerhouse, aligning with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The enhanced draft is expected to lower freight costs, improve cargo-handling efficiency, and strengthen the port's competitiveness in international trade.