In the East coast of India at latitude 16.59 degrees north and longitude 82.19 degrees east, lies the port of Kakinada under the Governance of State of Andhra Pradesh. The Port activities at Kakinada started way back in 1805. The loading activities started near Jagannaickpur and the cargo is fed by wooden cargo boats for the ships calling at Kakinada anchorage.

In order to have a hassle free navigation of wooden triangle keel cargo boats for transportation of cargo, it was necessary that a minimum draught has to be maintained throughout the year in the approach channel. To maintain minimum required draught and avoid continuous silting, groins were built on either side of the channel, with a width of 70 meters and length of 5 KM. The communication from ship to shore and vice versa in those days, was carried out by light house, through morse code and later on Port VHF station has taken its place more effectively. There are four contact timings out of which 1045 hrs contact time was considered important as was meant for, all vessels to render their position, direction and draft, basing on this information and initial information rendered by the Steamer Agents, vessel’s were allotted position. As positioning of vessel is a vital aspect in Anchorage port. Kakinada Port, which is amply protected by an island, popularly known as “Hope Island”, which was formed by river Godavari’s flood water which brought sand over period of time and extended to approximately 23 KM which acts as a natural break water. If this natural break water were to be constructed it would cost around Rs 1500 to 2000 crores.

Until 1999 we were using wooden cargo boats, with capacity ranging from 25 Mts to 250 Mts. Due to inherent disadvantage of wooden cargo boats such as damage of cargo, due to Seepage of sea water, draught constraint as boats were triangle keel, these wooden boats were condemned in a phased manner.

Presently the total capacity of steel dumb barges is around 35,000 Mts. Port has godown space on the water front. Port department, with a view to improve the infrastructure, leased out port land on long lease basis for construction of godowns by port users. Many godowns have come up in the leased out sites.

Kakinada Port developed in a steady manner, keeping pace with the development in infrastructure. Way back in 1979-80 the cargo handled was approximately 8.28 lakhs Metric tones, which, in the years 1988-89 the cargo handled increased to 12.71 lakhs Metric tones, by the year 1996-97 the Deep Water Port was commissioned and quantities rose to 18.68 lakhs Mts and in 2007-2008 Kakinada Port has handled a record quantity of 94.12 lakhs Mts.

In the year 1996 Deep Water Port was commissioned with initially three berths having 9.5 meters draught, with restriction on night berthing. The Deep Water Port is provided with navigational channel of 7000 meters length and 125 meters width and draught is 12.5 meters having a turning circle of 350 meters, allowing 11.5 meters draughted vessel to berth. A Fourth berth was commissioned in the year 2008. Presently Deep Water Port is equipped with navigational channel of 10000 meters length and 160 meters width with depth of 14 meters, allowing maximum permissible draught of 13 meters (on high tide). The Deep Water Port now provides round the clock berthing. The Deep Water Port provides ample storage facilities both open stack yards and closed warehouse. It is conveniently lined by Road and Rail.

The commodities handled at anchorage since inception– Agri Products (Rice, Rice bran, Maize, Soya meal, sal seed extractions, rape seed extractions, ground nut extractions, Palmira fiber, tapioca chips, tobacco, wheat, ) – Other Products Cement, Industrial salt, etc.

The imports and exports from DWP – Liquid cargos (edible oils, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid ), POL products, (naphtha, HSD, SKO, furnace oil), Gases (ammonia, methanol), Project Cargo, Bulk Cargo (ball clay, coal, feldspar chips, fertilizers, rock phosphate, steel plates, wheat, wood pulp, machineries) EXPORTS – Bulk Cargos (barites, bentonite, cement clinker, feldspar, granite block, iron ore, sugar, alumina bulk, STS crude oil), Liquid Cargos (bio diesel), molasses)

The steady rise in the commodities handled at Kakinada Port, indicates the trust imposed by the Exporters and importer in our performance, more particularly stevedoring. We hope to better our performance in the years to come and double the quantities year after year.