View source for Kamarajar Port

{{Advert|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox Port
| name = Kamarajar Port
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption = Kamarajar Port Limited
| country = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| location = [[Athipattu Pudunagar]], [[Ennore]], [[Chennai]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13.25164|N|80.32683|E|display=title,inline}}
| locode = IN ENR
| opened = 2001
| operated = Kamarajar Port Limited
| owner = Kamarajar Port Limited
| type = Seaport (Artificial)
| sizewater =
| sizeland =
| size =
| berths = 8
| wharfs =
| piers =
| employees = 94
| leadershiptitle = Managing Director
| leader = J.P Irene Cynthia, IAS
| blankdetailstitle1 = Capacity
| blankdetails1 = 30.00 million tonnes (2012–13)<ref>{{Cite web
  | title = Performance of Major Ports
  | publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Shipping
  | url = http://www.shipping.nic.in/writereaddata/l892s/PerformanceofMajorPorts-24060860.pdf
  | access-date = 1 October 2011
  }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| blankdetailstitle2 = Main trades
| blankdetails2 = Thermal Coal, Automobiles, Project Cargo, LPG, POL, Chemical, other liquids, other bulk and rock mineral products
| blankdetailstitle3 = UN/LOCODE
| blankdetails3 = INENR
| arrivals =
| cargotonnage = 11.01 million (2010–11)
| containervolume =
| cargovalue =
| passengertraffic =
| revenue = {{INR}} 1666.5 million (2010–11)
| profit = {{INR}} 706.4 million (2010–11)
| blankstatstitle1 = Vessels handled
| blankstats1 = 1006 (2018–19)
| blankstatstitle2 =
| blankstats2 =
| blankstatstitle3 =
| blankstats3 =
| website = http://www.kamarajarport.in/
}}

'''Kamarajar Port''', formerly '''Ennore Port''',<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=N. Ravi|date=2016-05-18|title=Ennore Port renamed as Kamarajar Port Ltd|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ennore-port-renamed-as-kamarajar-port-ltd/article5728995.ece|access-date=2022-02-16|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> is located on the [[Coromandel Coast]], [[Chennai]] about 18&nbsp;km north of [[Chennai Port]]. It is the 12th major [[Sea port|port]] of [[India]], and the first port in India which is a public company.<ref name="ennoreport">{{cite web|url=http://www.ennoreport.gov.in |title=Official site of Kamarajar Port Limited |publisher=Ennoreport.gov.in |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> The Kamarajar Port Limited is the only corporatised major port and is registered as a company. [[Chennai Port Trust]] acquired around 67% stake of [[Government of India|Centre]] in the Kamarajar Port Limited on 27 March 2020. The remaining 23 percent was already held by the Chennai Port Trust.<ref>{{cite web|title=India: Government to Build Mega Container Terminal at Chennai|date=24 February 2011 |url=http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/02/24/india-government-to-build-mega-container-terminal-at-chennai/|url-access=limited|access-date=1 October 2011|publisher=DredgingToday.com}}</ref> 

The port has been able to attract an investment of {{INR}}26,000 million by private entrepreneurs on various terminals and harbour craft.<ref name="PortPaysDividend" /> Kamarajar Port Limited, designed as Asia's energy port, is the first corporatised port in India and has only 86 employees. Envisaged being a satellite port to decongest and improve the environmental quality at the bustling Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port Limited is evolving itself into a full-fledged port with the capacity to handle a wide range of products. With a permissible [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of 13.5&nbsp;m, the port handled a total volume of 11.01 million tonnes in 2010–11, up by 2.86 per cent from the previous year.

==History==
Ennore Port was originally conceived as a satellite port to the Chennai Port, primarily to handle thermal coal to meet the requirement of [[Tamil Nadu Electricity Board]] (TNEB), and was endowed with large chunks of land (about 2,000 acres). The scope was expanded taking into account subsequent developments such as the plan of [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] to set up a 1,880&nbsp;mW LNG power project in association with a private consortium, a large [[petrochemical]] park and a [[naphtha]] cracker plant. Ennore Port was commissioned by the then Prime Minister of India [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] on 1 February 2001. The port was set up under the Companies Act, keeping it outside the scope of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports, the tariff regulator for 11 of the 12 ports owned by the Indian government.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Ennore port plans to raise Rs400 crore
  | newspaper = Business Standard
  | date = 7 January 2011
  | url = http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ennore-port-plans-to-raise-rs-400-crore/420974/
  | access-date = 8 December 2011}}</ref> The port was declared as a major port under the Indian Ports Act, 1908 in March 1999 and incorporated as the Ennore Port Limited under the Companies Act, 1956 in October 1999. Commercial operations commenced with [[Handymax]] geared vessels for unloading of thermal coal on 22 June 2001. With the deployment of self-unloading and gearless vessels of 65,000/77,000 [[dead weight tonnage]] (DWT), full-fledged operations were started in December 2002.

With the acquisition of about 440 hectares of land, the first phase of the port consisted of the construction of a coal jetty, a wharf and an entrance channel and related dredging operations. The main construction work included two berths for handling coal vessels up to 65,000 DWT, dredging for the approach channel and harbour basin, onshore civil works, navigational aids, and two breakwaters—4&nbsp;km in the north side and 1&nbsp;km in the south—close to the NCTPS and the Ennore Creek.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Krishnakumar |first=Asha |title=Pulicat in peril |magazine=Frontline |volume=17 |issue=12 |date=10–23 June 2000 |url =http://hindu.com/fline/fl1712/17120660.htm |access-date=8 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708224425/http://hindu.com/fline/fl1712/17120660.htm |archive-date=8 July 2012 |df =dmy-all}}</ref> In 2014, the port was officially renamed as Kamarajar Port.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Kumar 
  | first = N. Ravi 
  | title = Ennore Port renamed as Kamarajar Port Ltd 
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 26 February 2014 
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ennore-port-renamed-as-kamarajar-port-ltd/article5728995.ece
  | access-date = 9 March 2014}}</ref>

==Location and geography==
{{Main|Geography of Chennai}}
Ennore Port lies on the northeastern corner of the [[Chennai]] City of Tamil Nadu State on a flat coastal plain known as the [[Eastern Coastal Plains]]. It is located on the east coast of the [[Indian subcontinent|Indian peninsula]] known as the [[Coromandel Coast]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]] and is situated 2.6&nbsp;km north of the [[Ennore Creek]]. Nearby railway station is [[Athipattu Pudunagar]]. Being coastal and situated on the [[thermal equator]] zone, the port experiences minimal variations in seasonal temperature ranging from a maximum of 38–42&nbsp;°C in summer to a minimum of 18–20&nbsp;°C in winter. The weather is hot and humid for most of the year, and the region features a [[Tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry]] climate. The northeast monsoon winds brings seasonal rainfall in the region from September to December, and occasionally cyclones. The annual rainfall in the region is about 1400&nbsp;mm (55&nbsp;in). The most prevailing winds are the southwesterly between April and October<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2402/es2402page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization |title=NASA climate data visualized |publisher=Classzone.com |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref> and the northeasterly during the rest of the year. The port is located on a region that falls under [[Seismic hazard|Seismic Zone III]] indicating a moderate risk of earthquake. The Ennore Creek in the south separates the port from the town of [[Ennore]]. 
[[Image:Ennore Creek sunset.jpg|400px|thumb|center|Ennore Creek]]

==Operations==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" align=right
|-
!
! Nos.
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|'''Port crafts'''
|-
| Tugs (40 tonne Bollard pull) || 3 nos.
|-
| Pilot launches || 2 nos.
|-
| Mooring launches || 3 nos.
|-
| High-speed patrol boat || 1 no.
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|'''Navigational aids'''
|-
| Fairway buoy || 1 no.
|-
| Channel-marking buoy || 6 nos.
|-
| Transit light towers || 2 nos.
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|'''Equipment profile<br />(installed by TNEB over coal wharf)'''
|-
| Conveyors (4000 TPH each) || 2 nos.
|-
| Unloading equipments: Shore-based<br />gantry-type grab (2000 TPH each) || 2 nos.
|-
| Mobile Hopper (to receive coal from<br />crane hopper self-unloading ship<br />at the rate of 4000 TPH) || 1 no.
|-
| Temporary hoppers (to receive coal from<br />Handymax geared vessels) || 6 nos.
|}

Commissioned in 2001 and operating on a landlord port concept, it is outsourcing all services required for operation and maintenance, and new terminals are being developed with the participation of the private sector.<ref name="ennoreportadb">[http://www.adb.org/Documents/Periodicals/ADB_Review/2003/vol35_6/profitable_ports.asp Profitability of Ennore Port] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509072451/http://www.adb.org/Documents/Periodicals/ADB_Review/2003/vol35_6/profitable_ports.asp |date=9 May 2006 }}</ref> During the year of 2010–11, it handled a total cargo of 11.01 million tons. The port has effectively taken over all the ore movement from the [[Chennai Port]]. By 2016, the port is expected to have the capacity to handle over 80 million tons of cargo and its coal-handling capacity is expected to be about 43 million tons. The port is equipped to handle 16 million tonnes of coal per year from its two dedicated coal berths with 15&nbsp;m alongside depth and staffed by TNEB, while its third berth promoted by Chettinad International Coal Terminal, is a common user facility that can handle 8 million tonnes per annum.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Sujatha
  | first = S.
  | title = India: Ennore Port on Expansion Mode
  | newspaper = Deccan Chronicle
  | publisher = Dredging Today
  | date = 26 May 2011
  | url = http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/05/26/india-ennore-port-on-expansion-mode/
  | access-date = 8 December 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%" align=left
|-
! Year
! Cargo (in million tonnes)<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Traffic handled at major ports
  | date = 24 September 2018
 | publisher = Hindu Businessline
  | url = https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tn-to-import-20-lakh-tonnes-of-coal-for-power-plants/article25031077.ece
  | format = url
  | access-date = 24 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 2001–02 || 3.401 (from June 2001)
|-
| 2002–03 || 8.485
|-
| 2003–04 || 9.277
|-
| 2004–05 || 9.479
|-
| 2005–06 || 9.168
|-
| 2006–07 || 10.71
|-
| 2007–08 || 11.56
|-
| 2008–09 || 11.50
|-
| 2009–10 || 10.703
|-
| 2010–11 || 11.01
|-
| 2015–16 || 32.21
|-
| 2016–17 || 30.02
|-
| 2017–18 || 30.45
|-
| 2018–19 || 34.50
|}

The approach channel to the port is 3,775&nbsp;m long. The minimum depth of the entrance channel is 16&nbsp;m below chart datum (BCD) and the minimum width is 250&nbsp;m. The [[turning basin]] is 600&nbsp;m in diameter with a minimum depth of 15.5&nbsp;m BCD.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Table 1.3 Topography of Major Ports
  | publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Shipping
  | year = 2009
  | url = http://www.shipping.nic.in/writereaddata/l892s/Tab3-70151193.pdf
  | access-date = 10 December 2011
  }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The breakwaters in the port are of rubble-mound type with accropode armour protection. The northern breakwater measures 3,080&nbsp;m and the southern breakwater measures 1,070&nbsp;m.

The port has adequate road and rail links. The Port has obtained an in-principle approval from [[Southern Railway Zone (India)|Southern Railways]] for providing rail connectivity to coal and iron ore stackyards. Ennore Port Limited (EPL) is also developing an 8-lane Northern Express Road, which would link the port with the National Highway No. 5. It has a {{convert|560|m|adj=on}}-long coal wharf for berthing two [[Panamax]]-size vessels and fully mechanised systems for handling 16 million tons of cargo a year. Designed as a world-class port, with two breakwaters—one in the north measuring {{convert|3080|m|abbr=on}} and the other in the south measuring {{convert|1070|m|abbr=on}} with a depth of {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}}—it has the capacity to develop 22 berths for handling a variety of bulk, liquid, and container cargo. The port is an artificial port with features including all-weather, round-the-clock operations and transport interface.

According to the Maritime Agenda 2010–20, the port traffic is projected to increase to 67.44 million tonnes in 2016–17 and 71.54 million tonnes in 2019–20.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Simhan
  | first = T.E. Raja
  | title = Ennore Port gets board nod to go public
  | newspaper = Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 21 January 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2011/01/21/stories/2011012150811800.htm
  | access-date = 10 December 2011}}</ref> Against this projected traffic growth, the port's capacity is expected to increase from the existing 16 million tonnes (as on 31 March 2010) to 73 million tonnes in 2016–17. The major economic activities through which traffic and capacity will rise are development of LNG and coal terminals and expansion of outer harbour stage II and development of [[container terminal]], respectively. The target set for the port for 2010–11 is 13.20 million tonnes against a target of 12.45 million tonnes during the previous fiscal.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Traffic Targets
  | publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Shipping
  | url = http://www.shipping.nic.in/writereaddata/l892s/69638610-Traffic%20Targets.pdf
  | access-date = 10 December 2011
  }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

During 2010–11, the port handled a total of 294 vessels, including 184 dry bulk, 87 liquid bulk, 22 break bulk and 1 container vessels against 273 vessels in 2009–10, registering a 7.69% increase.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Indian Ports Association, Performance Indicators
  | publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Shipping
  | url = http://www.shipping.nic.in/writereaddata/l892s/portperf-54592443.pdf
  | access-date = 10 December 2011
  }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Car exports took place through the port for the first time in 2010–11. A total of 54,264 cars were exported through the port by [[Renault-Nissan]] Automotive India Pvt. Ltd.

The Marine Liquid Terminal constructed at a cost of {{INR}} 2,500 million is already operational since January 2009.

Being a corporate port, Ennore Port is the only major port in the country paying dividend to the government. During the year 2010–11, the port reported a post-tax profit of {{INR}} 555.8 million as against {{INR}} 486.6 million in the previous year. The operating ratio of the port is the lowest among all the major ports in India at 33.56 per cent during 2010–11.<ref name="PortPaysDividend">{{Cite news
  | title = Ennore Port pays Rs 7.4 cr dividend
  | newspaper = Business Standard
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 30 September 2011
  | url = http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ennore-port-pays-rs-74-cr-dividend/450911/
  | access-date = 1 October 2011 }}</ref>

Cargo handled by Ennore Port (in million tonnes):<ref name="CargoHandled">{{cite web
  | title = Ninth Annual Report 2008-09
  | publisher = Ennore Port Limited
  | year = 2009
  | url = http://www.ennoreport.gov.in/Annual%20Report%202008-09%20English.pdf
  | access-date = 10 December 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Commodity
! 2007–08
! 2008–09
|-
| Thermal coal || 9.05 || 9.71
|-
| Iron ore || 2.19 || 1.11
|-
| Petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL)<br />(including STS) || 0.32 || 0.68
|- class="sortbottom"
| Total || 11.56 || 11.50
|}

As of 2017, the port handled more than 200,000 cars, chiefly by [[Nissan]] and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], outnumbering the neighbouring Chennai Port.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Anand 
  | first = N. 
  | title = Chennai Port to pep up car exports
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = Kasturi & Sons
  | date = 29 October 2017
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/chennai-port-to-pep-up-car-exports/article19939995.ece
  | access-date = 29 October 2017}}</ref>

==Terminals==
The Chettinad International Coal Terminal (CICTL), the private terminal at the port capable of handling [[Panamax]] ships, commenced operations in January 2011 and is targeting to handle nearly 5 million tonnes of coal/coke by current financial year ending 31 March 2012. The terminal was completed with equipments and conveyor systems, yard and evacuations systems with capacity to handle 8 million tonnes of coal/coke annually at project outlay of about {{INR}} 4,000 million.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Simhan
  | first = T.E. Raja
  | title = Court order windfall: Chettinad coal terminal at Ennore may handle 5 mt this year
  | newspaper = Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 23 August 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article2389506.ece
  | access-date = 10 December 2011}}</ref>

The Ennore Container Terminal (ECT), also known as the Bay of Bengal Gateway Terminal, will have an eventual planned annual capacity of 2.4 million TEUs and will be capable of handling three mainline vessels simultaneously.<ref name="PortPaysDividend"/> The construction is expected to begin by end of 2011 at a cost of £207 million, allowing the first ships to be handled in 2013. The terminal for 6,000-to-8,000&nbsp;TEU vessels will have a quay length of 1,000&nbsp;m with 15&nbsp;m water depth at the berths and will be able to handle three container vessels of up to 8,000&nbsp;TEUs simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Simhan
  | first = T. E. Raja
  | title = Ennore container terminal to handle ships from 2013
  | newspaper = The Hindu Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 26 August 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article2393063.ece
  | access-date = 2 October 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! Berth
! Capacity<br />(MTPA)
! Max permissible<br />length (m)
! Max permissible<br />draught (m)
! Type of cargo
! Size (DWT)
! Type of vessels
|-
| Coal Berth 1 (CB1) || 8 || 240 || 13.5 || Thermal coal || 65,000–77,000 || Handymax and Panamax size vessels<br />(both geared & gearless)
|-
| Coal Berth 2 (CB2) || 4 || 240 || 13.5 || Thermal coal || 65,000–77,000 || Handymax and Panamax size vessels (geared vessels only)
|-
| Marine Liquid Terminal 1 (MLT1) || 3 || 260 || 13.5 || POL/chemicals || Up to 1,50,000
|
|-
| Chettinad International Coal Terminal (CICT) || 8 || 260 || 13.5 || Coal (other than TNEB) || Up to 1,50,000
|
|}

The [[Indian Oil Corporation]] Ltd's (IOC) Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal at the port, which began in November 2015, is scheduled to open in October 2018. Built at a cost of {{INR}} 51,510 million, it has a capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum, with provisions to increase it to 6 million tonnes without any addition and to 10 million tonnes by the addition of two more tanks. At the initial stages, the plant would function at 20 to 25 percent of its capacity, supplying natural gas to industries in the Manali industrial area, including Madras Fertilizers Ltd., Chennai Petroleum Corporation and Tamil Nadu Petroproducts. Gas will reach the terminal in liquid form in order to ease transportation and it will be re-gassified before supplying it through pipelines to fertilizer industries to be used as gas-based feedstock, replacing [[naphtha]]. In would also be used to generate power or run furnace in other industries.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Ramakrishnan 
  | first = Deepa H. 
  | title = IOC's LNG import terminal in Ennore by October 
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | publisher = Kasturi & Sons
  | date = 30 April 2018
  | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/iocs-lng-import-terminal-in-ennore-by-october/article23722341.ece
  | access-date = 15 October 2018}}</ref>

==Connectivity==
===Road link===
The highway authority is implementing a project for construction of {{convert|30.1|km|abbr=on}} segment of Chennai-Ennore Port connectivity.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Chabra
  | first = Pawan
  | title = Chennai-Ennore Port road connectivity project to be completed in two years
  | newspaper = India Transport Portal
  | date = 8 March 2011
  | url = http://indiatransportportal.com/2011/03/chennai-ennore-port-road-connectivity-project-to-be-completed-in-two-years/
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110319054324/http://indiatransportportal.com/2011/03/chennai-ennore-port-road-connectivity-project-to-be-completed-in-two-years/
  | url-status = usurped
  | archive-date = 19 March 2011
  | access-date = 10 December 2011}}</ref> Announced by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1998, the cost of the Chennai-Ennore Port Road Connectivity project, earlier called Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project, has escalated by four times to {{INR}} 6,000 million. The project is to enable free flow of truck traffic from and to the Chennai port in North Chennai. The Ennore Port handles over 5,000 containers a day and trucks need to take this Ennore-Manali road for entry and exit to the port. The project is still in the "tendering" stage—previous tenders were cancelled for various reasons.<ref>{{cite news
 |title=Chennai-Ennore Port project finally gets rolling 
 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle 
 |location=Chennai 
 |date=20 January 2011 
 |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/chennai-ennore-port-project-finally-gets-rolling-786
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121000257/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/chennai-ennore-port-project-finally-gets-rolling-786
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=21 January 2011
 |access-date=10 December 2011 
}}</ref>

The project will commence in January 2011 and will be completed in 2 years.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Minister's promise to start work on Chennai road by Jan cheers trailer operators
  | newspaper = Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 12 December 2010
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/12/12/stories/2010121252180300.htm
  | access-date = 10 December 2011}}</ref>

The Union Government has decided to lay a {{convert|21.1|km|adj=on}}-long 4-laned national highway (port corridor) connecting Ennore with Thacchur at a cost of {{INR}} 3,740 million. The road runs from the northern gate of Ennore port to Panchetti near Thatchur on National Highway 5. The proposed road would provide direct access to NH 5 from the Ennore port and the upcoming port of L&T. The road between the Ennore port and Panchetti would have its alignment along nine villages, including Kattupalli, Ariyanvoyal, Nallur, Vellampakkam and Vannivakkam. Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetti link road to be created would cover the villages of Kollatur, Nandiambakkam and Vallur.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Lakshmi
  | first = K.
  | title = Ennore port-NH 5 direct access proposed
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 22 May 2011
  | url = http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/22/stories/2011052262020300.htm
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526005532/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/22/stories/2011052262020300.htm
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 26 May 2011
  | newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
  | access-date = 12 December 2011}}</ref>

L&T Ship Building Ltd is likely to form a joint venture with Ennore Port and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), to build a 25.5-km road that would connect Ennore and [[Kattupalli Shipyard|Kattupalli]] ports. The road project is estimated to cost {{INR}} 3,600 million. To implement the road project some 400 acres would need to be acquired.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Ramesh
  | first = M.
  | title = L&T to team up with TIDCO, Ennore Port for road project
  | newspaper = Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 27 July 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/article2297072.ece
  | access-date = 12 December 2011}}</ref>

===Rail link===
The port has 6-km-long rail link connecting the coal and iron ore stack yards and the [[North Chennai Thermal Power Station]] with [[Athipattu railway station|Athipattu]] and [[Athipattu Pudhunagar railway station|Athipattu-Pudhunagar]] railway stations. A 26&nbsp;km Y-shaped single-track northern link from the port to the [[Anuppampattu railway station]], connecting the port with the Chennai-Gudur mainline, was proposed in 2012 at an estimated cost of {{INR}} 1,700 million. The link will have two arms at the port end, with one arm culminating at coal and iron ore stack yards and the other culminating at the upcoming container terminals. The link would eventually upgraded to a dual-track one.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Anand
  | first = N.
  | title = Ennore Port seeks one more rail link
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 5 March 2012
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2961105.ece
  | access-date = 9 December 2012}}</ref> In-principle approval from the Indian Railways was obtained in September 2013.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Ennore port gets nod for north rail link 
  | newspaper = The New Indian Express 
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = Express Publications 
  | date = 22 September 2013 
  | url = http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Ennore-port-gets-nod-for-north-rail-link/2013/09/22/article1797035.ece
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213224825/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Ennore-port-gets-nod-for-north-rail-link/2013/09/22/article1797035.ece
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 13 February 2016
  | access-date = 23 September 2013}}</ref>

Rail connectivity project works to link coal and iron ore stackyards with [[Athipattu]] station on the Chennai–[[Vijayawada]] mainline are under the implementation at a cost of {{INR}} 516 million.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Ennore Port earns Rs.41.46 crores profit
  | newspaper = NetIndian
  | location = New Delhi
  | publisher = NetIndian.in
  | date = 18 September 2009
  | url = http://netindian.in/news/2009/09/18/0003427/ennore-port-earns-rs-4146-crores-profit
  | access-date = 12 December 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, the coal and iron ore stackyards are being serviced through a new-line operationalised in November 2010.<ref name="PortPaysDividend"/>

==Awards==
Ennore Port has been conferred with the "memorandum of excellence certificate" by the Government of India for 2008–09. It is the second consecutive year that the port has been selected for the honour. The union ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises had granted MoU excellence awards and certificates for achieving "excellent" MoU rating.<ref name="Excellence award for Ennore port"/>

Government of India has accorded Category-I Mini Ratna status to Ennore Port Limited.

==The future==
The Planning Commission has approved a rail connectivity for Ennore Port to the coal, iron and container terminals. There is a US$230-million expansion for the port in progress. An iron ore terminal is currently in the process of construction by PSA Sical.<ref name="ennoreiron">{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200704020312.htm |title=Ennore Port Iron Ore Terminal |publisher=Hindu.com |date=2 April 2007 |access-date=22 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107204310/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200704020312.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
  | title = Ennore port to have iron ore terminal soon
  | newspaper = Press Trust of India
  | publisher = Steel Guru
  | date = 7 June 2011
  | url = http://www.steelguru.com/raw_material_news/Ennore_port_to_have_iron_ore_terminal_soon/208698.html
  | access-date = 12 December 2011
  | archive-date = 22 March 2012
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120322141704/http://www.steelguru.com/raw_material_news/Ennore_port_to_have_iron_ore_terminal_soon/208698.html
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> The terminal will have a capacity for 12 million tonnes of cargo per year, expandable to 15/20 million tonnes per year. Facilities include a jetty, ship loader, mechanised handling system with conveyor, storage, and a wagon unloading system. The port is expanding its cargo handling capacity to 87 million tonnes a year in the next 5 years as mandated by the Union Government, according to a press release from Ennore Port Ltd.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
!Terminal
!Capacity (million tonnes per annum)
!Estimated cost (in million)
!Alongside depth
!Jetty length
!Development & operation
!Date of commissioning
!Status
|-
| Iron ore terminal || 12.0 (6.0 in Phase I and 6.0 in Phase II) || {{INR}} 4,800 ({{INR}} 3,600 in Phase I and {{INR}} 1,200 in Phase II) || 15&nbsp;m BCD (Phase I) (18&nbsp;m depth deepening in progress) || 347.5&nbsp;m || M/s SICAL Iron ore Terminals Ltd (Consortium of SICAL Logistics Ltd., MMTC Ltd. and L&T IDP Ltd.) || 28 January 2011 || Completed
|-
| Coal terminal || 8.0 || {{INR}} 3,991.3 || 15&nbsp;m BCD || 325&nbsp;m || M/s Chettinad International Coal Terminal (P) Ltd. (Consortium of SICL, Portia Management Services Ltd. and Navayuga Engineering Ltd.) || 28 January 2011 || Completed
|-
| General cargo berth || 0.5 (plus 200,000 cars per annum) || {{INR}} 1,100 || 12&nbsp;m BCD || 250&nbsp;m || || 28 January 2011 || Completed
|-
| Marine liquid terminal || 3.0 || {{INR}} 2,500 || 15&nbsp;m BCD || 360&nbsp;m || Ennore Tank Terminal Pvt. Ltd.(Consortium of IMC Pvt. Ltd. and L&T Ltd.) || January 2009 || Completed
|-
| Container terminal (Phase I) || 18.0 (1.5 million TEUs) || {{INR}} 14,070 || 15&nbsp;m BCD || 1,000&nbsp;m || Bay of Bengal Gateway Terminal Pvt. Ltd. || 2013–2014 || Ongoing<ref name="PortPaysDividend"/>
|-
| LNG terminal || 5.0 || Approx. {{INR}} 27,000 (including regassification plant) || 15&nbsp;m BCD || 300&nbsp;m || IOCL<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=80422&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1650261&highlight=|title=Foster Wheeler Awarded Contract for an LNG Receiving Terminal in India|date=18 January 2012|publisher=Foster Wheeler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406202525/http://archive.amecfw.com/news/2012/foster-wheeler-awarded-contract-for-an-lng-receiving-terminal-in-india|archive-date=6 April 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=19 January 2012}}</ref>||  || Planned
|-
| Coal berth III for TNEB || 9.0 || || 15&nbsp;m BCD || 290&nbsp;m || Developed by Ennore Port and operated by TNEB || || Planned
|}

Though the port started as a dirty port to take over the coal and ore handling from the [[Chennai Port]], it has suggested a proposal for a modern container terminal. The facility would have a capacity to handle 1.5 million TEUs (18 million tonnes). The port has started competing with the Chennai Port on handling of container traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/2008/04/17010429/Chennai-Ennore-ports-fight-fo.html |title=Competition between Ports for Container Traffic |publisher=Livemint.com |date=17 April 2008 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> Recently, the Nissan-Renault car manufacturing company picked it over the Chennai Port for the car exports.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083151120300.htm |title=Car export for Nissan-Renault |newspaper=The Hindu Business Line |date=31 August 2008 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> To facilitate this, a US$320-million expansion has been approved and will commence by March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.portnews.ru/digest/814/ |title=Container Terminal in Ennore Port |publisher=En.portnews.ru |date=14 March 2008 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> The port also won [[Toyota]] for its exports of cars manufactured near [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{cite web|author= 0120 hrs IST |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/toyota-set-to-export-cars-via-ennore-port/488923/ |title=Toyota to use Ennore Port for its exports |publisher=Financialexpress.com |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title =Toyota & Nissan to export from Ennore Port| newspaper =Indian Ports| date =n.d.| url =http://port.industry-focus.net/index.php/ennore-port/152-toyota-a-nissan-to-export-from-ennore-port.html| access-date =12 December 2011| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110813184553/http://port.industry-focus.net/index.php/ennore-port/152-toyota-a-nissan-to-export-from-ennore-port.html| archive-date =13 August 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref> Mitsui is working on creating an auto yard in the port to facilitate the exports.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/SYZ6ir2hbC61OMfSjRyosI/Japan8217s-Mitsui-to-operate-car-yard-at-Ennore-with-Sica.html|title=Mitsui to operate a car yard at Ennore with Sical|last=Manoj|first=P.|date=4 August 2009|newspaper=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406203015/http://www.livemint.com/Companies/SYZ6ir2hbC61OMfSjRyosI/Japan8217s-Mitsui-to-operate-car-yard-at-Ennore-with-Sica.html|archive-date=6 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The port is also planning to build a four-lane road linking the new terminal with the national highway (NH-5).

Construction of a car export terminal with a capacity of handling 400,000 cars annually at the port has been completed, which Japanese car-maker [[Nissan Motors]] will use to export {{formatnum:180000}} cars per year once fully executed,<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Chennai Port to create capacity to facilitate car exports 
 |publisher=Project Monitor 
 |date=24 February 2010 
 |url=http://www.projectsmonitor.com/PORT/chennai-port-to-create-capacity-to-facilitate-car-exports 
 |access-date=14 December 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130238/http://www.projectsmonitor.com/PORT/chennai-port-to-create-capacity-to-facilitate-car-exports 
 |archive-date=28 September 2011 
}}</ref> though exports are expected to commence from 28 January 2011. Construction of the terminal has cost {{INR}} 1,200 million and the facilities will include a berth, a 12-m draft after [[dredging]] of the basin and a parking yard of 175,000&nbsp;sq.m. A coal terminal and iron ore terminal are also being developed at a total investment of {{INR}} 8,800 million.<ref name="TerminalDev">{{cite news
  | title = Ennore Port to approach Shipping Ministry for IPO approval
  | newspaper = The Economic Times
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Times Group
  | date = 1 October 2010
  | url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-01/news/27609107_1_ennore-port-terminal-ipo
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110812055449/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-10-01/news/27609107_1_ennore-port-terminal-ipo
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 12 August 2011
  | access-date = 14 December 2011}}</ref> The coal terminal, constructed at a cost of {{INR}} 4,000 million with a capacity to handle 8 million tonnes of coal, is expected to commence on 28 January 2011. The iron ore terminal was constructed at a cost of {{INR}} 4,800 million with a capacity to handle 12 million tonnes annually and was opened in January 2011 but is yet to start commercial operations. However, since the Supreme Court put a blanket ban in July 2011 on mining in the mineral-rich Bellary-Hospet belt in Karnataka, on which the terminal is totally dependent on, to check environmental damage arising from rampant illegal mining, Sical Logistics is seeking to handle diversified cargo.<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Manoj
  | first = P.
  | title = Iron ore terminal at Ennore looks to diversify cargo after mining ban
  | newspaper = livemint.com
  | pages = 6
  | date = 6 October 2011
  | url = http://www.livemint.com/2011/10/05223344/Iron-ore-terminal-at-Ennore-lo.html?atype=tp
  | access-date = 8 October 2011}}</ref> The container terminal will be built at a cost of {{INR}} 14,070 million (US$312 million)<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Indian Shipping Ministry will award a Rs1,407-crore contract for building a container terminal at Ennore 
  | newspaper = Business Standard
  | publisher = DredgingToday.com
  | date = 30 December 2009
  | url = http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2009/12/31/indian-shipping-ministry-will-award-a-rs-1407-crore-contract-for-building-a-container-terminal-at-ennore/
  | access-date = 14 December 2011}}</ref> with an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEU. Work on the new Ennore Container Terminal is scheduled to take 33 months and it is expected to be operational by the end of 2013. The concession will be awarded on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years. The terminal will have a quay length of 1,000&nbsp;m and an estimated throughput of 1.5 million TEUs annually. The terminal will provide 15-m water depth at the berths and will be able to handle three container vessels of up to 8,000 TEUs simultaneously.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Eredene-backed Group Wins $312M Ennore Port Container Terminal Bid
  | newspaper = VCCircle
  | publisher = vccircle.com
  | date = 28 June 2010
  | url = http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/eredene-backed-group-wins-312m-ennore-port-container-terminal-bid
  | access-date = 14 December 2011}}</ref>

The port is awaiting the [[Government of India|Central Government]]'s permission to start a capital dredging work.<ref name="portexp">{{cite news
  | title = Ennore Port to boost cargo handling capacity to 87 mt
  | newspaper = Business Line
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = The Hindu
  | date = 3 April 2007
  | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/2007/04/03/stories/2007040301862100.htm
  | access-date = 14 December 2011}}</ref> There is a [[special economic zone]] (SEZ) coming up near the port covering {{convert|3000|acre|km2}} to take advantage of the proximity to the port. It is for engineering, information technology, auto components, garments and leather products. It would have container freight station facilities and free trade warehousing zone.<ref name="ennoresez">{{cite web
  | title = Ennore SEZ
  | publisher = TIDCO
  | date = n.d.
  | url = http://www.tidco.com/sez2.html
  | access-date = 14 December 2011
  | archive-date = 8 November 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111108124432/http://www.tidco.com/sez2.html
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

With the inauguration of three new terminals to handle non-TNEB coal, iron ore and cars in 2010, the installed capacity of the port had doubled from 15 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes.<ref name="Excellence award for Ennore port">{{cite news
  | title = Excellence award for Ennore port
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 21 February 2011
  | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-21/chennai/28618251_1_ennore-port-excellence-award-certificate
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104211840/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-21/chennai/28618251_1_ennore-port-excellence-award-certificate
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 4 November 2012
  | newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
  | access-date = 12 December 2011}}</ref>

A {{INR}} 1,700-million capital dredging project to create necessary depths to handle larger vessels was commenced at the port on 26 February 2011. With this, the port's channel depth has been increased from 16&nbsp;m CD to 18&nbsp;m CD.<ref name="PortPaysDividend"/>

In December 2011, Manali Petrochemicals Ltd entered into an agreement to set up storage and handling facility at the port for bulk import of [[propylene oxide]], a major input for the derivative plants of the company. The facility is expected to be ready in about a year.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Manali Petro
  | newspaper = MoneyControl.com
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 21 December 2011
  | url = http://www.moneycontrol.com/stocks/stock_market/corp_notices.php?autono=507789
  | access-date = 28 December 2011}}</ref>

As of 2013, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) is considering setting up a [[Single buoy mooring|single buoy mooring (SBM)]] at the Port, estimated to cost in excess of {{INR}} 12,000 million, as one of the options available for transporting crude, which would help the company bring in very large crude carriers.<ref name="Hindu_OptionsToReplacePipeline">{{cite news 
  | last = Kumar 
  | first = N. Ravi 
  | title = CPCL mulls options to replace ageing pipeline 
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 9 February 2013 
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cpcl-mulls-options-to-replace-ageing-pipeline/article4394391.ece
  | access-date = 11 February 2013}}</ref>

==Environmental threats and illegal actions==
[[Ennore Creek]] is located adjacent to the Ennore Port. It is part of a lagoon ecosystem that plays a vital role in balancing the coastal ecosystem in the area. Ennore Creek drains two important rivers, Kosasthalaiyar in the South and Aranaiyar in the North into the Bay of Bengal through the Ennore Estuary.<ref name=" Ennore Creek - Ecology and Violations ">{{cite web
 | url = https://storyofennore.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/ennore-ecology-and-violations.pdf
 | title = Ennore Creek – Ecology and Violations
 | date = January 2016
 | publisher = The Coastal Resource Centre – Chennai
 | access-date = 13 July 2017
 }}</ref>
The creek prevents floods and storm surges and is essential to secure ground water reservoirs from [[saltwater intrusion]]. 
The port poses a huge threat to the creek. Shorelines changes have led to the closure of one of the two creek mouths and are assumed to have taken place due to the construction of the port.<ref name="NIOT">{{cite web
 | url = http://www.icmam.gov.in/EnnoreWLA.PDF
 | title = Waste Load Allocation & Waster Assimilative Capacity Studies for Ennore Creek & North Chennai Coastal Waters
 | date = June 2004
 | publisher = National Institute of Ocean Technology
 | access-date = 13 July 2017
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120401221353/http://www.icmam.gov.in/EnnoreWLA.PDF
 | archive-date = 1 April 2012
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
This makes it more difficult for water to drain from the creek into the Bay of Bengal and increases the risk of flooding in the area. Additionally the Kamarajar Port Limited is dumping dredged material into the Ennore Creek, a violation of the [[Coastal Regulation Zone]] Rules and the Water Act. The dumped material hinders and blocks the water flow of the creek, which is crucial to be free of encroachments in case of floods. Recently the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board issued a notice to Kamarajar port instructing the port to remove the illegally dumped materials.<ref name=" Pollution board issues notice to Kamarajar port ">{{cite news
 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/port-officials-pulled-up-for-polluting-creek/article19213144.ece
 | title = Pollution board issues notice to Kamarajar port
 | date = 5 July 2017
 | newspaper = The Hindu
 | access-date = 13 July 2017
 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Chennai Port]]
* [[Kattupalli Shipyard]]
* [[Ports in India]]
* [[2017 Ennore oil spill]]
{{Portal bar|India|Transport|Engineering}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kamarajarport.in Official site of Ennore Port]
* [http://www.tidco.com/sez2.html Ennore Special Economic Zone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108124432/http://www.tidco.com/sez2.html |date=8 November 2011 }}
* [https://shipmin.gov.in/ Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India]

{{Adani Group}}
{{Chennai Topics|left}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{Transport in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Major ports in India}}

[[Category:Economy of Chennai]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 2001]]
[[Category:Adani Group]]