Directorate Ports & Inland Water Transport

Directorate Of Ports and Inland Water Transport, Odisha, Bhubaneswar

Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport looks after the developmental activities of port sector as well as inland water transport in the state with the following aims and objectives;

Odisha is a maritime state with a vast coastline of 480 km approximately with a suitable number of potential sites for the development & up-gradation of Minor Ports, Fishing Harbours, Captive Jetties and other various coastal and inland water transport infrastructure facilities in the coastal region of Odisha.
Conservancy of Ports and Harbours is in accordance with the Indian Ports Act.1908, read with Odisha Port Policy 2022.
Identification of other potential sites and monitoring the progress and development of new Ports and Harbours.
Formulation of long-term and short-term coastal area development plans ultimately paves the way for the overall economic upliftment of the coastal people and the state.
To strengthen Crew Training Institute, Chandabali, for imparting modern, improved technical training on inland vessels to the students from the state and the students from outside.

IWT Sector

Inland Water Transport services are being provided and monitored by the Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport under the Commerce & Transport (Com) Department for better transport facilities to inaccessible areas without road or rail transport facilities.

The Government of Odisha has formulated “Odisha Boat Rules-2004” to ensure registration and proper checking of all types of Boats in the state. The Inland Vessel Rules are being prepared in line with the Inland Vessel Act 2021 to ensure economical and safe transportation and trade through inland waters.

For navigational safety, a certificate of competency examination for Master, Inland Engineer, Engine Driver and Serang of Mechanically Propelled Vessels is conducted through Ports & IWT, Mechanical Division, Cuttack.

The Crew Training Institute, Chandabali, provides training facilities to unemployed youths in the maritime sector. This Institute imparts two typesof courses.

10 Months Regular Course for fresh Candidates
3 Months Refresher Course for in-service candidates in Deck & Engine Rating.

DHAMRA PORT

Dhamra Port is located on the north of the mouth of river Dhamra at the Latitude 20⁰47'30" and Longitude 86⁰57'35". The Port is about 100 Nm south of Haldia Major Port and about 50 Nm north of Paradip Major Port. Dhamra isclose to the mineral-rich industrial States of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

A concession Agreement was signed between the Government of Odisha and International Sea-ports Limited on 02.04.1998 on BOOST basis for the development of Greenfield Port at Dhamara. The Dhamara Port Company Limited has developed Dhamara Port. Dhamra LNG Terminal Private Limited has constructed an LNG Storage and Regasification Terminal in Dhamra Port. Commercially commissioned on 21st May 2023 with a capacity of 6.5 MTPA, expandible up to 10 MTPA.

i	Project Cost	Rs.10,016.00 Crore
ii	Cargo handling Capacity	25 MTPA-109 MTPA
iii	Length of Approach Channel	18 Kms.
iv	Berths (Planned)	13 Nos.
v	Berths (In operation)	4 Nos.
vi	Vessel Size	180000 DWT
vii	Draft	-18 Mtr.

Port Performance

Financial Year	Import (MMT)	Export (MMT)	Coastal Shipping (MMT)	Total (MMT)
2016-17	14.36	3.61	3.44	21.41
2017-18	14.38	7.31	3.98	21.45
2018-19	12.75	3.94	3.98	20.67
2019-20	18.45	7.91	3.35	29.71
2020-21	20.87	8.30	3.21	32.38
2021-22	23.80	7.53	2.11	33.44
2022–23	20.71	7.78	2.79	31.28

GOPALPUR PORT

Government of Odisha operated Gopalpur Port as a seasonal lighterage Port from 1986-87. The Port was upgraded to an all-weather direct-berthing port through an international competitive bidding process, selecting Gopalpur Ports Limited as the developer. The concession Agreement between the Government of Odisha and Gopalpur Ports Limited was signed on 14^th September 2006, and the Port was handed over to Gopalpur Ports Limited on 30^th October2006 for development on a BOOST basis.

The Port started its commercial operation on 29.03.2013. However, a very severe cyclone, ‘PHAILIN,’ hit the Port on 12th October 2013 and disrupted the entire harbour protective structures, including the total backup infrastructure, and the Port operation was suspended. After PHAILIN restoration works, the Port re-commissioned its commercial operation on 31.10.2015.

i	Project Cost	Rs.1,411.00 Crore
ii	Cargo handling Capacity	0.55 MTPA-54.00 MTPA
iii	Length of Approach Channel	1.9 Kms.
iv	Berths	3 Nos.
v	Vessel Size	80000 DWT
vi	Draft	-12.5 Mtr.

Port Performance

Financial Year	Import (MMT)	Export (MMT)	Coastal Shipping (MMT)	Total (MMT)
2016–17	0.28	0.74	0.03	1.05
2017–18	0.66	0.44	0.04	1.14
2018–19	1.01	0.40	0.10	1.51
2019–20	2.34	2.89	0.32	5.55
2020–21	3.10	7.17	0.38	10.65
2021–22	3.96	3.55	0.52	8.03
2022–23	3.91	3.21	0.30	7.42

Riverine Port on River Mahanadi

The government of Odisha is taking steps for the development of a Riverine Port on the left bank of river Mahanadi (opposite to Paradip) in Kendrapada District for which feasibility study has been carried out.