Visakhapatnam Port Launches New Projects and Opens Waterfront Promenade
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has opened a new waterfront promenade and laid foundation stones for several projects at Visakhapatnam Port, in Andhra Pradesh on India’s Bay of Bengal coast. The port says the new works are worth about Rs 560 crore. The event, reported on 12 November, coincided with the CII Partnership Summit being held in the city on 12 and 13 November.
The Rs 19-crore Port Promenade runs about 710 metres along the water, from the Venkateswara Temple to the International Cruise Terminal, and covers about 5.5 acres. It has a walkway, two viewing decks, a park, a plaza, a children’s play area and a food court. It was built on existing port land without disturbing cargo work.
From the CrewMirror Blog
New contracts to operate and maintain existing cargo berths, including WQ-1, WQ-2, WQ-3 and EQ-3, require operators to mechanise them with cranes and conveyors and add environmental controls. About 500 local jobs are expected. The sewage treatment plant will also be expanded from 10 to 15 million litres a day at about Rs 11 crore, with treated water used for dust control, supporting the Harit Sagar green port initiative.
The port handled a record 91.17 million tonnes of cargo in 2025–26 and is moving to a landlord-port model to cut vessel turnaround time. Earlier this month, it berthed its first Panamax at the Inner Harbour. Other Indian ports are also pursuing green port projects such as methanol bunkering.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Mechanised berths and better dust control should mean faster, cleaner cargo work for ships calling at Visakhapatnam. Crews on bulk carriers can expect shorter port stays, which makes careful planning of rest hours and maintenance in port all the more important.
