Advantages :

• Strategically located very close to the East- West International sea-route.
• Well connected by broad gauge rail & road with all Major cities and all ICDs.
• Commissioning of Berth No. 7 by the Port of Singapore Authority as a Container Terminal with modern equipment and State of Art Technology by the end of 1999.
• 35 feet draught.
• Adequate covered and vast open storage area.
• Open lands in the Port area suited for locating Port based industries.

Berthing Facilities :

• V.O.C I & II of length 168m each (With Transit Sheds)
• V.O.C III & IV of length 192m each (With backup area for cargo stacking)
• Additional Berth I & II of length 168m each
• Oil Jetty of length 150m to 228m
• Coal jetties I & II of length 235m each
• Permissible draught 10.7m

Flotilla :

Four 30T bollard pull tugs and three 10T bollard pull tugs are available for maintaining unhindered shipping operations. Adequate number of Pilot launches, mooring crafts and other floating crafts are available.

Equipment :

PSA Tuticorin Container Terminal :

• Two Quay cranes with 44m outreach to handle gearless vessels
• Four RTG cranes to stack 5-containers high
• Reefer plug points - 84

Port container yard :

• Six Top Lift Trucks 35T - 5 nos & 25 T - 1 no.

Others :

• Mobile cranes (TATA P&H) 75T - (max)
• Ten Wharf Cranes ranging from 3T to 10 T (4 with grabs) .

Storage :

In addition, the port has got vast open land for the storage of cargo.
The Port has allotted Lands to private parties on Long-term, Short-term lease and on license basis for storage of cargo, Containers, to build their own tank farms for liquid cargoes, and for the users to build their office premises in the World Trade Avenue.

Open area for Cargo Stacking Facilities :

Open space for stacking bulk cargo and containers is available inside the security wall to the extent of 54,000 sq. m. The open areas can accommodate around 30,000 tonnes of bulk cargo either for import or export and 2500 containers.
In addition to containers, the open area inside the wharf are used for temporary stacking of bulk cargo such as coal and sulphur.

Tuticorin Port is having a vast open land of about 2,158 acres outside the main gate. Cargo godowns with a capacity of stacking 36,000 tonnes have been put up in this area by Tamil Nadu Warehousing Corporation. The Port has also permitted a number of other agencies to put up godowns and warehouses in order to augment the import and export trade through the Port. Open lands are also used for stacking of timber imported through the port as well as granite for export.

Container Terminal operated by PSA - SICAL

• Trained man power to operate the modern equipment
• Berthing on arrival for container vessels.
• Night Navigational facility.
• Round the Clock Port operations.
• Uninterrupted power supply to reefer plug points.
• Comprehensive CFSs facilities

Storage Facilities :

• 30,000 Sqm. asphalted area in the berth for the stacking of containers.
• 60,000 Sqm. fenced area with security guard for the stacking of stuffed containers.
• 70,000 Sqm. open space for the stacking of empty containers.
• 15,550 Sqm. covered warehouse area for the stacking of destuffed cargoes.

Other Facilities :

• Bunkering
• Supply of fresh water to ships
• Port signal and control station
• Round the clock VHF communication
• Cleaning and Dunnage
• Vessels and cargo surveys

Where to look for other Services :

Bunkering & Water supply :
The vessels calling at Tuticorin Port can replenish their supplies of bunkers through the services provided by the Indian Oil Corporation, the largest State opened petroleum company.
Water is provided to the ships at the Port through private agencies.

Survey :
The Mercantile Marine Department of the Govt. of India under the Director General of Shipping has its office at Tuticorin under the charge of the Surveyor in-charge to regulate the ships’ operations and survey as per the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. This office is also responsible for welfare of the seamen visiting Tuticorin. A number of Private Survey agencies are functioning at Tuticorin for undertaking cargo, container and other surveys.

Security :
The Central Industrial Security Force of the Govt. of India with adequate security personnel headed by a Deputy Commandant is deployed to man the vulnerable points in the Port area. In addition, watchmen of private agencies are deployed for watch keeping duties.

Safety :
The Port’s Fire Service wing is well equipped to handle all fire emergencies on the shore and on board the vessels. The Office of the Dock Safety Inspectorate, which is the regulatory authority to enforce safety, health and welfare of the dock workers is functioning at this Port.