Tuticorin Berth, Port

SHIHAB 17 months ago

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority is a port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, and is one of the 13 major ports in India. It was declared to be a major port on 11 July 1974. It is second largest port in Tamil Nadu and third largest container terminal in India. V.O. Chidambaranar Port is an artificial port. This is the third international port in Tamil Nadu and it is second all-weather port. All V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority's traffic handling has crossed 10 million tons from 1 April to 13 September 2008, registering a growth rate of 12.08 per cent, surpassing the corresponding previous year handling of 8.96 million tons. It has services to USA, China, Europe, Sri Lanka and Mediterranean countries. The Station Commander, Coast Guard Station Thoothukudi is located at V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tamil Nadu under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), Chennai. The Coast Guard Station V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority was commissioned on 25 April 1991 by Vice Admiral SW Lakhar, NM, VSM the then Director General Coast Guard. The Station Commander is responsible for Coast Guard operations in this area of jurisdiction in Gulf of Mannar. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority Thoothukudi is an ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code compliant port.

Thoothukudi has been a centre for maritime trade and pearl fishery for more than 2000 years. The natural harbour with a rich hinterland, activated the development of the Port, initially with wooden piers and iron screw pile pier and connections to the railways. Thoothukudi was declared as a minor anchorage port in 1868. Since then there have been various developments over the years. The development of minor ports is primarily the responsibility of State Governments. The Government of India also understands that traffic survey was started recently. The development of Tuticorin as a deep sea port has been under the consideration of the Government of Madras since 1920. The various schemes submitted to the Government regarding the development of Tuticorin Harbour. The names of the various schemes proposed for the development of the port are the following:

Wolfe Barry and Partners’ Scheme

Sir Robert Bristow's Scheme,

The Palmer Committee's scheme,

Shri B. N. Chatterjee's scheme, and

The Sethusamudram Project Committee's scheme

On 8 May 1958, the investigations undertaken by the Tuticorin Port Trust to determine the layout of the port are still in progress.