Major Ports In India

India has a total of 13 Major Port and 200 Notified Minor & Intermediate Ports. Ports play a vital role in overall economic development. About 95% by volume & 70% by value of the India’s international trade is carried on through maritime transports.

In India there are two types of ports are seen i.e.

1. Natural Port
2. Artificial Port

• Out of the 13 Major Ports  6 ports are located in the Bay of Bengal & 6 ports are located in the Arabian Sea.
• The 13 major ports are : 

1. Kolkata Port (2) Paradeep Port (3) Vishakhapatnam Port (4) Ennore Port (5) Chennai Port (6) V.O.Chidambaranar Port (7) Cochin Port (8) New Mangalore Port  (9) Mormugao Port (10) Jawaharlal Nehru Port (11) Mumbai Port (12) Kandla Port (13) Port Blair Port
2. Maximum number of ports is found in the state of Andhra Pradesh
3. Note: The major ports are under the administrative control of Ministry of Shipping while the non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective state maritime boards/State Govt.

• Only Riverine Port in India.
• It is a natural port.
• It is known for its twin dock systems i.e Kolkata Dock System (KDS) on the eastern Bank & Haladia Dock Complex (HDC) on the Western Bank of river Hoogly.

2. Paradip Port (Odisha) 

• It is a artificial port.
• It was the first major port on East-Cost commissioned in Independent India.
• Located at confluence of river Mahanandi in Bay of Bengal in Odisha.
• It is known for its Iron are exporting to foreign countries.

3. Vishakhapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh)

• Otherwise called ‘Vizag Port’ located in the state of A.P.
• It is the Deepest Port of India and is known for bulk of cargo handling on east cost.
• It is a artificial port.

4. Ennore Port (Tamil Nadu)

• This port is now named as Kamarajar Port Limited.
• It is the first corporate port of India and registered as a public port of India and registered as a public company with 68% stake held by the GOI.
• It is controlled by Ennore Shipping Company.

5. Chennai Port (Tamil Nadu)

• If is the oldest artificial port in India.
• It is the largest port in Bay of Bengal and Second largest port of India after JNPT.

6. V.O.Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu)

• It is a artificial port.
• This port previously known as Tuticorin Port.
• It is located in the Gulf of Mannar.
• It is the only port in South India to provide a direct weekly container service to the USA.

7. Cochin Port (Kerala)

• It is a natured port.
• It is located on the Willington Island on the South West Coast of India’ located on the Crossroads of the East-West Ocean Trade.
• The port is called Natural Gateway to the Vast Industrial & agricultural produce markets of the southwest India.

8. New Mangalore Port (Karnataka)

• It is an artificial port.
• Also called the Gateway of Karnataka.
• Located at a site called Panamber in Karnataka at Gurupar River Confluence with Arabian Sea.

9. Maromugao Port (Goa)

• It is a natured port.
• It is in Goa & Leading Iron are exporting port of India.
• Here the Naval Base of Indian Navy located.

10. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Maharashtra)

• It is an artificial port.
• It is also called Nhava Sheva Port and is the largest Container Cargo Caring port of India handling around half of the containers of all major ports.
• It is located an eastern shore of Mumbai harbour of Elephanta Island & is accessed via Thane Cross.
• Busiest & Biggest port of India.
• It is an all-weather tidal port.

11. Mumbai Port (Maharashtra)

• One of the oldest modern ports of India initially the location was used by navies of Shivaji.

12. Deendayal Port (Gujarat)

• It is the oldest natured tidal port of India
• Also Called “Queen of Arabian Sea” and “Child of Partition”.
• It is known for handling much of the crude oil imports of India.
• It is previously known as Kandla Port.

13. Port Blair Port (Andaman & Nicobar)

• Newest port of India
• Present in Andaman & Nicobar Island in Bay of Bengal