The achievement
marks a major advancement in India’s maritime infrastructure, positioning
Kamarajar Port as a Cape Compliant gateway capable of accommodating larger bulk
carriers and supporting the country’s growing international trade requirements.
The milestone was made possible through the successful completion of capital
dredging works executed by Van Oord, which deepened both the access channel and
the port basin to the required depth. The dredging project is expected to
significantly enhance the port’s operational capabilities and improve vessel
accessibility. With the increased
draft, Kamarajar Port will be able to receive fully laden Capesize vessels,
improving cargo-handling efficiency while enabling shipping lines and cargo
owners to benefit from economies of scale. The enhanced capability is also
expected to reduce logistics costs, improve turnaround times, and strengthen
the competitiveness of India’s import and export supply chains.
Van Oord congratulated Kamarajar Port on the
achievement, stating that it is proud to have contributed to the port’s
transformation into a future-ready maritime gateway through the successful
execution of the dredging works. The development is expected to reinforce
Kamarajar Port’s strategic role on India’s east coast and support the country’s
vision of developing world-class port infrastructure capable of handling
increasing volumes of global trade.