the port of krishnapatnam port, 100 miles north of chennai, has overtaken mundra on the other side of the subcontinent as the deepest harbour in india with a maximum draft of 18 metres, according to the uk journal, port strategy.
the port does its own dredging, having three suction cutters and three suction cutter-dredgers as well as its own dedicated dredger crews.
container operations began four months ago, and the port has since handled laden boxes of baled cotton. some 1,456 teu were handled when maersk dalton docked recently. since the facility opened, the krishnapatnam port container terminal has handled more than 24,000 teu.
the port now boasts a draft of 18.5 metres. in july 2008, when the port was dedicated to the nation, the maximum available draft alongside was 10.5 metres.
the deepening of the port's draft is just a small part of krishnapatnam's overall plan of becoming the largest port in india, with the port earmarking us$4 billion of investment to expand the port over the next few years.
the expansion includes the construction of 42 new berths as well as dedicated terminals for ro-ro, cruise ships, and liquid bulk.