Context

• Major ports should be able to handle ocean going streamers of at least 4000 tonnes and carry a minimum trade of 560 million tonnes per year. The port must have sheltered nature, the ability to function smoothly in all seasons, access to railway facilities, docking facilities, transit sheds, well-planned and broadly laid-out channels, facilities to meet defence requirements and should be able to serve the needs of the hinterland.
• India has a 7,517 km long coastline and has innumerable ports. India has 13 major ports and over 180 minor ports and ranks 16th in the world in terms of shipping tonnage. These ports are important aspects of national infrastructure and have helped make the Indian market more attractive for foreign investors.
• As per the Indian Constitution the Indian government has a federal structure and thus maritime transport comes under the concurrent list. Major ports are under the jurisdiction of the Government of India and are governed by the Major Port Trusts Act 1963, except Ennore port, which is administered under the Companies Act 1956.
• There are 13 major ports in the country; 6 on the Eastern coast and 7 on the Western coast. The major ports account for 58% of the total cargo shipped via Indian ports. These manage the largest volume of cargo and container traffic. Out of the 13 ports, 12 are government owned and one port, i.e. Ennore port in Tamil Nadu is owned by corporate bodies.