Vadhavan Port is a proposed deep sea port at Vadhavan in Palghar district of Maharashtra. The port will be built on coast of the Arabian Sea; the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is responsible for the construction of the port.[1] After the construction of the port, it will be one of the deepest sea ports in India after Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram, and will have more draft depth than Port of Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. It is estimated that the construction of the port will cost of 76,220 crore (US$9.1 billion).[2] Vadhavan will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited, a special purpose vehicle. Jawaharlal Nehru Port will have a 74 percent stake in the project and Maharashtra Maritime Board will have 26 percent in a public private partnership.[3][4]

Vadhavan Port
Map
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Location
CountryIndia
LocationVadhavan, Palghar, Maharashtra
Coordinates19°55.8′N 72°39.6′E / 19.9300°N 72.6600°E / 19.9300; 72.6600
Details
Operated byVadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
Owned byGovernment of India and Government of Maharashtra
Type of harbourDeep-sea port
Draft depth16.5 metres (54 ft)

The port will consist of an artificial harbour, and its berths along with the inner navigable channel will be surrounded by breakwater, while the outer navigable channel will be open sea. Cargo will be handled through container berths, liquid berths, ro-ro berths and multipurpose cargo berths within harbour. From the Vadhaban Point, towards the sea, a distance of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) has a natural depth of 20 metres (66 ft), making it possible to handle large ships in the port. The harbour and wharf will have depths of 17.5 metres (57 ft) and 19.5 metres (64 ft) respectively, and will be able to accommodate panamax and capesize vessels. The port's draft a maximum of 16.5 metres (54 ft) with tidal support, which will allow 24,000 container ships to enter; but the draft without tide is 14.5 metres (48 ft). A 4 km long navigable channel, with a width of 732 m, will be used for the movement of ships in the harbour of the port.

Port infrastructure

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Harbour

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The harbour of Vadhavan port is planned as an artificial harbour, which will be protected by breakwaters. The prescribed water depth for container wharves is 19.5 metres (64 ft) CD; the harbour basin and maneuvering basin will have a depth of 17.5 metres (57 ft) CD. The harbour will allow large container ships of 233,000 DWT to enter the port. The land required for the construction of cargo handling infrastructure will be reclaimed from the sea by filling with silt.

Approach channel

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Depth of water in the channel[5]
Condition and value of depth Channels
Condition Value Approach channel Inner channel
Natural depth Seabed
(below CD)
17–20 metres (56–66 ft) 15–17 metres (49–56 ft)
Dredged 20 metres (66 ft) 17.5 metres (57 ft)
Tidal depth Minimum
(with minimum tidal advantage)
22 metres (72 ft) 19.5 metres (64 ft)
Maximum
(with HHWS)
24.7 metres (81 ft) 22.2 metres (73 ft)

A 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long approach channel outside breakwater will be connect the 17.5 metres (57 ft) CD deep water body of Arabian sea to the harbour for ships movment.[6] The approach channel has a desing depth of 20 metres (66 ft) and a minimum width of 732 metres (2,402 ft), but the harbor depth of 17.5 metres (57 ft) CD (1st phase) will allow vessels of 14.5 metres (48 ft) draft to enter and exit the harbour without tidal support. However, the mean sea level (MSL) observed in the port area is 2.8 metres (9.2 ft), which increases the depth of the approach channel and harbour.[5] The depth of the inner channel and manoeuvring area will be more than 19.5 metres (64 ft) with minimum tidal advantage; vessels with a draft of 16.5 metres (54 ft) are capable of navigating in this water depth.[6][5]

Container terminal

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Initial plans to build the port include four container terminals in the first phase; each terminal consists of 2 berths with a 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) long wharf. The deck height of the wharves is 7.6 metres (25 ft) above the chart datum or mean lower low water (MLLW). Each berth of these terminals will have facilities for handling vessels with a maximum length of 400 metres (1,300 ft) and a beam of 61 metres (200 ft).[7]

References

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  1. ^ "This memorandum of understanding intered into on 5th day of Jun 2015 at Mumbai. For Development of a satellite port for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPA) off Vadhavan point south of Dahanu port on the cost of Maharashtra between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Executive Summary" For Development Of A Greenfield Port At Vadhavan, District –Palghar, Maharashtra (PDF) (Report). Environmental Consultant Enkay Enviro Services Private Limited. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Boost for maritime sector as Rs 76,220 Crore Vadhavan Port planned in Maharashtra gets cabinet nod - India Shipping News". June 20, 2024. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Rs 76,000-cr Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra gets Cabinet approval". www.business-standard.com. 2024-06-19. Archived from the original on 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  5. ^ a b c JNPT 2023, p. 98–99.
  6. ^ a b JNPT 2023, p. 119.
  7. ^ JNPT 2023, p. 216-217.

Bibliography

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