Chennai | March 10, 2026
A group of journalists from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, currently on a Press Information Bureau (PIB) press tour, visited the Chennai Port on Monday where they were briefed by senior officials of the Chennai Port Authority on the port’s operations and its crucial role in maintaining connectivity with the Islands.
The briefing was led by S. Kirupanandasamy, Traffic Manager, Chennai Port Authority, along with other senior officials, who highlighted the port’s role as a key supply gateway for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Officials informed that most essential commodities required in the Islands are shipped from Chennai, including food items, medicines, clothing, automobiles and construction materials. Cargo movement between the mainland and the Islands is largely facilitated through container and general cargo vessels operated by shipping companies.
According to the officials, Chennai Port ensures priority berthing for vessels serving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to avoid disruption in supply. If container terminals face congestion, alternative berths at port-operated facilities or coastal berths are provided to ensure that island-bound vessels are handled without delay.
The port handles a substantial volume of cargo related to the Islands every year. Officials said that around one lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container cargo linked to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are handled annually, while about 1.39 lakh TEUs were handled during the previous year.
Chennai Port, which has 27 berths and a cargo handling capacity of about 136 million tonnes, is among the major maritime hubs in the Bay of Bengal region. Officials noted that the port is also India’s leading automobile exporting port and the second-largest major port in the country in terms of container traffic.
The port also plays a role in passenger movement between the mainland and the Islands. A dedicated passenger terminal has been established at Chennai to facilitate sea travel, although officials said passenger services have reduced over time due to increased air connectivity. However, shipping services continue to operate when required, including for movement of defence personnel.
During the interaction, journalists raised questions regarding cruise tourism between Chennai and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Officials said that Chennai Port currently has a modern cruise terminal capable of handling around 400 passengers per hour, which is being upgraded to increase capacity to 800 passengers per hour. Cruise vessels presently operate from Chennai to destinations such as Visakhapatnam, Puducherry, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. However, officials noted that the lack of a dedicated cruise terminal in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is currently a limiting factor in expanding cruise tourism on this route.
Responding to queries about the proposed international container transshipment terminal at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar Island, officials said the project holds significant strategic potential due to its location along major global shipping routes in the Indian Ocean. They noted that once developed, the port could function as a major transshipment hub similar to Singapore and support India’s maritime trade growth.
Journalists also raised concerns about past delays in berthing cargo vessels operating between Chennai and Port Blair, which had earlier led to shortages of essential commodities in the Islands. Officials clarified that such delays occurred due to scheduling conflicts and operational constraints at container terminals handling international vessels. They said that alternative berths and additional equipment support have since been provided, reducing vessel turnaround time from around 72 hours to approximately 49 hours.
Following the briefing, the visiting journalists were taken to the berth where passenger vessels serving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands normally dock, located near the Chennai International Cruise Terminal. The group was also given a riding tour of the Chennai Container Terminal (CCT) operated by DP World, where they observed the loading and unloading of containers from large cargo ships.
Officials reiterated that Chennai Port remains committed to supporting cargo and passenger connectivity with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and assured continued cooperation to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the Islands.
