OCEANIC WATERWAY OF INDIA (did you know)

Oceanic Waterway

• According to INDIA 2018, India has 12 major and about 200 non major ports along India's Coastline which is about 7,517 km. The 6 major ports-Kolkata, Paradip, Vishakhapatnam,Kamarajar (Ennore), Chennai and V.O Chidambaranar are on the east cost and the other 6 major ports viz., Cochin, New Mangalore, Mornugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT, Sheva, Navi Mumbai) and Deendayal (earlier know as kandla) Port are on the west coast . These major ports are under direct control of the Central Govt. and fal in Union List 7th Schedule of the constitution.
• Approximately 95% of the country;s trade by volume and 68% by value is moved through maritime transport.
• According to 'INDIA 2018' India's shipping tonnage was only 192 lakh Gross Tonnage (GT) on the eve of independence (in 1947), India has one of the largest merchant shipping fleet among the developing countries and ranks 17th amongst the countries with a cargo carrying fleet of 10.88 million GT as on September 30, 2017 and with the average age of the fleet beings 18.03 years.
• Large ports are maintained by the central government whereas small ports are included in the concurrent list and are managed by the state government.
• As on 31st December, 2015 the 12 major ports handled the cargo traffic of 447.05 MT during April-December 2015, representing an increase of 3.18% utilization in 70%.
• Largest port of India is Jawahar Lal Nehru Port in Mumbai.
• The largest natural port is in Vishakhapatnam.
• Deendayal Port (erstwhile Kandla Port) in Gujarat is a tidal port. It has been made into a free trade zone.
• Haldia Port (WB) is said to be developed as the first Green Port of India.