UN/LOCODE: INKRI📍 India

Port of Krishnapatnam (UN/LOCODE INKRI)

❖ Coordinates: 14.2886°N, 80.1248°E

❖ Time Zone: Asia/Calcutta

❖ UN/LOCODE: INKRI

## About the Port Krishnapatnam Port (UN/LOCODE: **INKRI**), formally designated as Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL), is a deep-water, all-weather, multi-cargo port situated on the Coromandel Coast of India in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Strategically positioned at **14.2886° N, 80.1248° E**, the port operates within the **Asia/Calcutta (IST, UTC+5:30)** timezone. It lies approximately 190 km north of Chennai Port and 18 km from the National Highway 16 (NH-16), offering immediate access to the Golden Quadrilateral highway network. Developed under a Build-Own-Operate-Share-Transfer (BOOST) model on a 50-year concession agreement awarded by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the port is currently owned and operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) following its acquisition of a controlling stake in 2021. The facility holds a statutory "Major Port" equivalent status under the Indian Ports Act, 1908, granting it significant operational autonomy. Its deep draft capabilities—currently maintained at **18.5 meters**—allow it to handle Capesize vessels up to 200,000 DWT, positioning INKRI as a critical gateway for bulk, breakbulk, and containerized cargo serving the hinterlands of South and Central India. ## History The genesis of Krishnapatnam traces back to the early 2000s when the Andhra Pradesh government identified the need for a deep-draft port to decongest Chennai and Visakhapatnam while catalyzing industrial development in the Rayalaseema and Nellore regions. The concession agreement was signed in 1997 (amended 2004) with the Navayuga Engineering Company-led consortium, forming KPCL. **Phase I** construction commenced in 2006, with commercial operations inaugurated in **July 2008**. The initial configuration comprised two berths (one mechanized coal berth and one multipurpose berth) with a draft of 14.5 meters. **Phase II** (2012–2015) expanded capacity significantly, adding container terminals, additional multipurpose berths, and deepening the approach channel to 18.5 meters to accommodate Capesize bulkers. A pivotal inflection point occurred in **October 2021**, when Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) acquired a **89.6% stake** in KPCL for an enterprise value of approximately ₹13,572 crore (USD 1.8 billion). This acquisition integrated Krishnapatnam into India’s largest port network, unlocking synergies in logistics, rail connectivity, and the adjacent Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KIA) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ). For a detailed regulatory history of the concession framework, refer to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways↗ concession archives. ## Infrastructure & Facilities Krishnapatnam distinguishes itself through high mechanization ratios and deep-draft infrastructure designed for high-throughput bulk and container operations. ### Berths & Terminals The port currently operates **14 operational berths** with a cumulative quay length exceeding 2.8 km, categorized as follows: * **Mechanized Coal Terminals (Berths 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6):** Equipped with high-capacity ship unloaders (grab and continuous bucket types), conveyor systems, and stacker-reclaimers. Designed for thermal coal import for coastal power plants, with a rated capacity exceeding 30 MMTPA. * **Container Terminal (Berths 7 & 8):** A 680-meter quay length operated with 8 Rail-Mounted Quay Cranes (RMQCs) and 24 Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes (RTGCs). Current design capacity stands at **1.2 Million TEUs**, with yard density optimized for reefer and hazardous cargo segregation. * **Multipurpose & General Cargo Berths (Berths 9–14):** Handle iron ore, fertilizers, steel, project cargo, and aggregates. Equipped with mobile harbor cranes (MHCs) and grab handling systems. ### Draft & Navigation The approach channel spans **12.5 km** with a maintained depth of **18.5 meters (Chart Datum)** and a width of 250 meters, allowing unrestricted entry for Capesize vessels (LOA up to 300m, Beam up to 50m) during high tide. The turning circle diameter is 600 meters. Night navigation is fully operational with VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) integration. ### Hinterland Connectivity * **Rail:** A dedicated **30 km broad-gauge rail link** connects the port to the Indian Railways network at Venkatachalam station (South Central Railway zone). The port operates **3 full rake sidings** and 6 handling lines, facilitating daily dispatch of 15–20 rakes. * **Road:** Direct four-lane connectivity to NH-16 (Chennai-Kolkata corridor) via a dedicated port expressway. * **Pipeline:** Slurry pipeline infrastructure exists for iron ore fines transport to hinterland beneficiation plants. ## Economic Importance Krishnapatnam functions as a primary economic engine for the Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district and the broader Andhra Pradesh corridor. The port directly employs over 2,500 personnel and supports an estimated 15,000 indirect jobs across stevedoring, transport, CFS/ICD operations, and the adjacent **Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KIA)**. The port is the linchpin for **coastal energy security**, handling ~25–30% of India’s thermal coal imports destined for power plants in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. This "coastal shipping" paradigm significantly reduces rail logistics costs (Rs/tonne-km) compared to rake movement from eastern coalfields. Furthermore, the co-located **SEZ (Notified 2007)** and **Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ)** host units in granite processing, marine products, edible oil refining, and fertilizer manufacturing. The port’s ability to handle "Gateway" containers (direct mother vessel calls) reduces transshipment dependency on Colombo or Singapore, saving Indian EXIM trade an estimated **$50–$75 per TEU** in feeder costs and 3–5 days in transit time. APSEZ’s integration strategy aims to develop the port into a **Smart Industrial Port City (SIPC)**, leveraging the 6,000+ acres of available land bank for downstream petrochemical and manufacturing clusters. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo Krishnapatnam’s cargo profile is heavily weighted toward **dry bulk (75–80%)**, followed by containers (15–20%) and liquid/breakbulk. ### Major Cargo Commodities | Commodity Category | Primary Origins / Destinations | Trade Flow Direction | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Thermal Coal (Steam Coal)** | Indonesia (Kalimantan), South Africa, Australia, Russia | **Import** (Power Sector) | | **Coking Coal / Met Coke** | Australia, Mozambique, Indonesia | **Import** (Steel Plants) | | **Iron Ore & Pellets** | Bellary-Hospet (Karnataka), Odisha | **Export** (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) | | **Fertilizers (Urea, DAP, MOP)** | Middle East (Qatar, Oman), Jordan, China | **Import** (Agrarian Hinterland) | | **Containerized Cargo** | China, Southeast Asia, Europe, US East Coast | **EXIM** (Textiles, Granite, Aqua, Auto parts) | | **Edible Oils (Crude Palm, Sunflower)** | Indonesia, Malaysia, Ukraine, Argentina | **Import** (Refineries in KIA) | | **Gypsum / Limestone / Bauxite** | Oman, UAE, Malaysia | **Import** (Cement/Alumina Clusters) | ### Shipping Lines & Route Connectivity The port is served by major global alliances and niche operators: * **Mainline Container Services:** **MSC** (Dragon, Ingulfe), **CMA CGM** (MEX, INDAMEX), **Maersk** (via feedering/Slot charter), **COSCO/OOCL** (SEA-IN), and **Hapag-Lloyd** (IAS). These services link INKRI directly to **Jebel Ali, Singapore, Port Klang, Colombo, Ningbo, Shanghai, Rotterdam, and Hamburg**. * **Bulk Tramping:** Dominated by Capesize and Panamax charter fixtures for coal/iron ore. The port is a fixed call on the **"India-Australia Coal Route"** and **"Indonesia-India Thermal Coal Shuttle."** * **Feeder Network:** Robust feeder connectivity via **Simatech, RCL, and ISS** to Colombo, Mundra, Pipavav, and Hazira facilitates transshipment cargo capture. The port’s strategic location at the confluence of the **East Coast of India (ECI) route** and the **International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)** feeder links positions it uniquely to capture cargo diversion from congested northern gateways, particularly for the burgeoning industrial corridors of the Deccan Plateau.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

INKRI

Country

India

Province / Region

Andhra Pradesh

Latitude

14.288601

Longitude

80.124848

Timezone

Asia/Calcutta

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Krishnapatnam?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Krishnapatnam is INKRI.

Where is Port of Krishnapatnam located?

The Port of Krishnapatnam is located in India, Andhra Pradesh. Its coordinates are 14.2886°N, 80.1248°E.

What time zone is Port of Krishnapatnam in?

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

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This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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