Water Transport: Ports, Trade and Connectivity

India’s water transport network, comprising oceanic waterways and inland waterways, plays a vital role in facilitating trade and connectivity. With a vast coastline and numerous ports, India handles a significant portion of its foreign trade through maritime routes. In this article, we will explore oceanic waterways, the types of ports, major seaports, and their strategic significance in enhancing India’s maritime infrastructure.

Oceanic Waterways/Sea Routes 

• Maritime Infrastructure in India: India has a vast coastline of approximately 7,517 km, including islands with 12 major and 205 notified minor ports. While the major ports are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping, the non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Boards/ State Government.
• Significance: Approximately 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70% by value moves through ocean routes.

• 57% of the total traffic is handled by major ports and 43% by others.

• Maharashtra: has the most non major ports in India, followed by Gujarat.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): of up to 100% under the automatic route for port and harbour construction and maintenance projects is allowed.

Types of Ports 

• Based on Location

• • 1. Inland Ports: located away from the sea coast, linked to the sea through a river or a canal. 
       • Example: Kolkata is located on Hooghly, a branch of the river Ganga. 
    2. Out Ports: deep water ports built away from the actual ports. These serve the parent ports by receiving those ships that are unable to approach them due to their large size.

• Based on Specialised Functions

• 1. Oil Ports: deal in the processing and shipping of oil. Maracaibo (Venezuela), Esskhira (Tunisia), Tripoli (Lebanon) are tanker ports. Abadan (Iran) on the Gulf of Persia is a refinery port.
  2. Ports of Call: Ports where ships stop for refuelling, watering and taking basic necessities. 
  3. Packet Station: also known as ferry ports. They transport passengers and mail across water bodies covering short distances. These stations occur in pairs.
  4. Entrepot Ports: These are collection centers where the goods are brought from different countries for export. 
     • Example: Singapore is an entrepot for Asia.
  5. Naval Ports: have strategic importance & serve warships. 
     • Example: Kochi and Karwar ports in India.

Major Sea Ports of India

Eastern Coast 

• Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Artificial harbour built in 1859; not very suitable for large ships because of the shallow waters near the coast. 
  • Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are its hinterlands.
• Ennore/Kamarajar Port (Tamil Nadu):  constructed north of Chennai to relieve the pressure at Chennai port; 
  • India’s First corporatised port. [UPSC 2023]
• Tuticorin/V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu):  also developed to relieve the pressure of Chennai port; located in the Gulf of Mannar; 
  • Deals with fertilizers and petrochemical products.
• Kolkata/Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (West Bengal): located on the Hugli river (riverine port); problem of silt accumulation
• Paradip (Odisha): Natural harbour situated in the Mahanadi delta that specialises in the export of iron ore. 
  • It has the deepest harbour, suited to handle very large vessels.

• Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): land-locked harbour, connected to the sea by a channel; 
  • deals with the export of iron ore to Japan.

Western Coast

• Kochi (Kerala): Natural harbour situated at the head of Vembanad Kayal, also known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ 
• Kandla/Deendayal Port (Gujarat): First port developed soon after Independence (also called the child of partition) to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port. 
  • It is a tidal port on the Gulf of Kachch; largest cargo handling capacity (2020-21).
• Mundra Port (Gujarat): situated in the Gulf of Kutch; first private port; 
  • largest privately owned port. [UPSC  2023]
• Mangalore (Karnataka): Caters to the needs of the export of iron-ore and iron-concentrates from Kudremukh mines.
• Mormugao (Goa): Natural harbour situated at the entrance of the Zuari estuary; used for iron ore export.
• Mumbai (Maharashtra): Natural port and biggest harbour in India; 
  • the busiest port in India; the country’s largest oil terminal.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust: developed as a satellite port to decongest the Mumbai port; also known as Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai;  
  • Largest Artificial Port; Largest Container Port in India. [UPSC 2023] 
  • JNPT SEZ became the first of its kind operational port-based multi-product SEZ in India.

Conclusion

India’s water transport system, bolstered by its extensive coastline and well-equipped ports, serves as a critical artery for economic growth and development. From facilitating trade to supporting strategic operations, the country’s maritime infrastructure plays an important role in shaping its connectivity and global engagement.