UN/LOCODE: INCDL📍 India

Port of Cuddalore (UN/LOCODE INCDL)

❖ Coordinates: 11.7447°N, 79.7680°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Calcutta

❖ UN/LOCODE: INCDL

## About the Port Cuddalore (UN/LOCODE: **INCDL**) is a medium‑sized, all‑weather deep‑water port situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Its geographic coordinates are 11°44′41″ N, 79°46′05″ E (11.744699 N, 79.7680243 E) and it operates in the Asia/Calcutta (IST) timezone, UTC +5:30. The port lies approximately 200 km south‑south‑west of Chennai and 150 km north‑north‑east of Puducherry, offering a strategic gateway for the inland industrial belts of the Cauvery delta, the Salem‑Steel corridor, and the growing manufacturing clusters around Tiruchirappalli and Madurai. The harbour is formed by a natural inlet protected by a breakwater and a pair of training walls that mitigate monsoon swell and sedimentation. The port’s administrative authority is the **Cuddalore Port Trust**, a statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. While it does not rank among India’s top‑10 container hubs, Cuddalore’s niche lies in the handling of bulk commodities, project cargo, and coastal shipping, complemented by a modest container terminal that serves feeder services to major hubs such as Chennai, Kolkata, and Singapore. ## History ### Early Maritime Activity Archaeological evidence points to Cuddalore’s use as a fishing and minor trading anchorage as early as the Sangam period (circa 300 BCE–300 CE). The town’s name derives from the Tamil “Kudalur,” meaning “place of confluence,” referencing the nearby confluence of the Gadilam and Paravanar rivers with the sea—a natural advantage for early maritime activity. ### Colonial Era During the 17th and 18th centuries, Cuddalore became a contested outpost among European powers. The French established a settlement in 1674, followed by the British East India Company, which seized control after the Battle of Cuddalore (1758) during the Seven Years’ War. The British developed a rudimentary jetty to facilitate the export of cotton, indigo, and saltpetre from the hinterland. Throughout the 19th century, the port’s importance waned as rail connections shifted trade focus to Madras (Chennai) and Tuticorin. ### Post‑Independence Development After Indian independence in 1947, the Government of India identified Cuddalore as a site for a dedicated minor port to decongest the major hubs and support regional industrialisation. The **Cuddalore Port Trust** was constituted in 1964, and the first phase of modern infrastructure—a 200‑metre quay with a 7.5‑metre alongside depth—was completed in 1972. Subsequent expansions in the 1980s and 1990s added a second berth, a dedicated coal handling jetty, and improved rail links to the broad‑gauge line connecting Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai. The most recent upgrade (2018‑2022) deepened the approach channel to 9.5 metres (chart datum) and installed a 30‑metre portal crane, enabling the port to accommodate vessels up to 50,000 DWT. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### H3 - **Berth No. –co):** 300 ### Berths and Quay Length Cuddalore Port presently operates **three operational berths**: | Berth | Length (m) | Alongside Depth (m) | Primary Use | |-------|------------|----------------------|-------------| | Berth 1 (General Cargo) | 210 | 8.5 | Break‑bulk, project cargo, containers (feeder) | | Berth 2 (Bulk Cargo) | 250 | 9.0 | Coal, fertilizer, limestone, sand | | Berth 3 (Liquid Cargo) | 180 | 7.5 | Petroleum products, edible oils, chemicals | The total quay length is **640 metres**, with a combined backup area of roughly **12 hectares** for open storage, covered warehouses (≈ 8,000 m²), and liquid storage tanks (≈ 15,000 m³ capacity). ### Handling Equipment - **Portal Cranes:** 2 × 30‑tonne gantry cranes (Berth 1) and 1 × 40‑tonne crane (Berth 2) for bulk and container operations. - **Mobile Harbour Cranes:** 2 × 25‑tonne cranes for flexible handling of oversized project cargo. - **Conveyor Systems:** A 1.2‑km belt conveyor linking Berth 2 to the on‑site coal stacker/reclaimer and the nearby thermal power plant. - **Liquid Transfer:** Marine loading arms with vapor recovery units for POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) and chemical cargoes. ### Connectivity - **Rail:** Broad‑gauge (1,676 mm) siding directly serves Berths 1 and 2, linking to the Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai line and onward to the Chennai–Trichy mainline. Average rail dwell time is under 4 hours for bulk cargo. - **Road:** National Highway 32 (NH‑32) runs parallel to the port, providing direct access to the industrial corridors of Cuddalore, Panruti, and Sirkazhi. The port maintains a dedicated truck‑parking yard with 150 slots and a weigh‑bridge system. - **Inland Waterways:** Though not presently a major node, feasibility studies have examined linking Cuddalore to the proposed **Cauvery–Mahanadi inland waterway** to augment coastal‑riverine transport. ### Ancillary Services The port provides bunkering (marine fuel oil and diesel), fresh water supply, ship repair facilities (slipway and dry dock capable of handling vessels up to 15,000 DWT), and 24‑hour customs clearance through the **Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange (ICES)** system. A dedicated **Marine Traffic Control (MTC)** centre monitors vessel movements via AIS and radar, ensuring safe navigation within the 12‑nautical‑mile limit. ## Economic Importance Cuddalore Port contributes approximately **₹1,200 crore (≈ US$150 million)** annually to the regional economy, primarily through throughput fees, logistics services, and ancillary employment. The port directly employs around **850 personnel** (including port trust staff, stevedores, and customs agents) and supports an estimated **4,200 indirect jobs** in transport, warehousing, and manufacturing sectors. Key economic drivers include: 1. **Energy Sector:** The port supplies imported coal to the **NLC Tamil Nadu Power Limited** (NTPL) 2×500 MW thermal power plant located within the port estate, handling roughly **3.5 million tonnes per annum (million) of coal. 2. **F) million tonnes** of coal each year. 2. **Fertilizer Industry:** Inbound shipments of urea, DAP, and rock phosphate feed the **Madras Fertilizers Limited** unit in nearby Panruti, sustaining agricultural productivity across the Cauvery delta. 3. **Steel and Metallurgy:** Although Cuddalore lacks an integrated steel plant, it serves as a feeder point for scrap metal and alloy inputs to the **Salem Steel Plant** and various mini‑steel units in the region. 4. **Project Cargo:** The port’s heavy‑lift capabilities have facilitated the movement of oversized components for wind‑farm installations, solar‑park structures, and offshore platform modules destined for the **Kudankulam** and **Karaikal** offshore developments. 5. **Container Feeder Operations:** A modest but growing container feeder service (average 120 TEU per voyage) links Cuddalore to the Chennai hub, enabling exporters of textiles, leather goods, and agro‑products to access global shipping lines without lengthy overland hauls to Chennai. The port’s strategic location reduces logistics costs for industries within a 150‑km radius by an estimated **12‑18 %** compared to routing via Chennai or Tuticorin, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing export basket. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Principal Trade Lanes - **East‑West Coastal Route:** Cuddalore ↔ Chennai ↔ Kolkata ↔ Visakhapatnam, primarily for bulk commodities (coal, fertilizer, limestone) and container feeder services. - **West‑Asia Link:** Occasional calls by Middle‑East flagged tankers carrying petroleum products and LPG, destined for the refineries of Chennai and Nagapattinam. - **Intra‑Indian Coastal Shipping:** Regular services under the **Sagarmala** programme connect Cuddalore to ports such as Krishnapatnam, Kakinada, and Port Blair, supporting the movement of construction materials and project cargo. - **Global Feeder Links:** Via Chennai, Cuddalore’s containers are transshipped to major hubs including Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai, linking the region to Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. ### Commodity Profile (FY 2023‑24) | Cargo Type | Annual Throughput (approx.) | Share of Total Tonnage | Remarks | |------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|---------| | Thermal Coal | 3.2 Mt | 45 % | Main feedstock for NTPL power plant; sourced from Indonesia, South Africa, and Australia. | | Fertilizers (Urea, DAP, Rock Phosphate) | 1.1 Mt | 15 % | Imported from Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Russia; dispatched to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka farms. | | Limestone & Building Stone | 0.8 Mt | 11 % | Supplies cement plants in Ariyalur and Trichy. | | Petroleum Products (Diesel, FO, LPG) | 0.6 Mt | 8 % | Handled at Berth 3; serves local industries and power generators. | | General Cargo (Steel, Project, Bagged Goods) | 0.5 Mt | 7 % | Includes wind‑turbine components, machinery, and bagged chemicals. | | Containers (FEU) | 0.12 M TEU | 4 % | Feeder service to Chennai; growth rate ≈ 6 % YoY. | | Others (Salt, Sand, Scrap) | 0.6 Mt | 10 % | Miscellaneous bulk and break‑bulk items. | The port’s **average vessel size** is around **35,000 DWT**, with a maximum LOA of 190 m and a beam of 32 m accommodated at Berth 2. The **annual ship call count** averages 280 vessels, with a peak during the post‑monsoon period (October‑January) when coal imports surge to meet power demand. ### Environmental & Safety Measures Cuddalore Port adheres to the **International Safety Management (ISM)** Code and maintains an ISO 14001 environmental management system. Key initiatives include: - Real‑time monitoring of particulate matter and NOx emissions from coal handling operations. - Installation of a **siltation management system** comprising periodic dredging (maintaining a 9.5 m channel) and sediment traps to reduce turbidity in the adjacent bay. - Oil spill response equipment (booms, skimmers, dispersants) stationed at the marine terminal, compliant with the **National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan**. - Shore power provision for berthed vessels to reduce auxiliary engine emissions during cargo operations. ## Concluding Note While Cuddalore may not command the headline volumes of India’s mega‑ports, its purpose‑built infrastructure, modal connectivity, and proximity to key industrial clusters render it a vital node in the nation’s maritime logistics network. Ongoing investments under the Sagarmala initiative—particularly the deepening of the approach channel, augmentation of storage capacities, and development of a dedicated logistics park—are poised to increase the port’s throughput capacity by **30‑40 %** over the next five years, reinforcing its role as a gateway for energy, agricultural, and manufacturing trade along the Coromandel Coast.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

INCDL

Country

India

Province / Region

Tamil Nadu

Latitude

11.744699

Longitude

79.768024

Timezone

Asia/Calcutta

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Cuddalore?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Cuddalore is INCDL.

Where is Port of Cuddalore located?

The Port of Cuddalore is located in India, Tamil Nadu. Its coordinates are 11.7447°N, 79.7680°E.

What time zone is Port of Cuddalore in?

Port of Cuddalore operates in the Asia/Calcutta time zone.

🌊 Live Marine Conditions

Wave Height0.4 m

Wave Direction141°

Swell Height0.22 m

Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API

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