Watch Now


Chennai planning mega-terminal

Chennai planning mega-terminal

The Chennai Port Trust is proposing to build a $762 million deepwater container terminal capable of handling 13,000- to 15,000-TEU ships, the Indian port said Monday.

   The terminal would be the first deepwater terminal of its kind in India, according to port officials. Most ports don't have deep enough draft to handle the world's biggest containerships. Already one of India's major seaports and the busiest on its underdeveloped East Coast, the terminal would make Chennai an interesting alternative for shippers who ordinarily route containers through the Jawarlahal Nehru Port near Mumbai, which handles close to two-thirds of all of India's containers.

   Chennai's announcement follows closely a decision by India's shipping ministry to shortlist port architectural firms to design an offshore deepwater port, most likely near Calcutta.