The shipping platform

Location: Kolkata (formerly named Calcutta) is situated on the River Hughli, a tributary of the River Ganges approx. 80NM from the Bay of Bengal. General overview: The port is on the left bank of the River Hughli, about 80NM from the river mouth and 121nm from Eastern Channel Light Vessels at Sandheads, where pilot vessel awaits incoming vessels. Port extends about 23NM along river, from Konnager, 9NM upstream from docks, to Budge Budge (petroleum wharves), 14NM downstream. Port conservators' jurisdiction extends about 210nm, from Sandheads up to Nabadwip, some 80nm above Kolkata. The port of Kolkata has berths for most cargoes and there are repair facilities operated both privately as well as by the Port Trust. Kolkata Port comprises of the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and the Haldia Dock Complex (see separate entry). KDS consists of Kidderpur Docks (KPD), Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) and the petroleum wharves at Budge Budge. The Virtual berth at Sager Island is a transshipment berth for Panamax vessels discharging into barges. Cargoes: - Main imports include petroleum, iron and steel and other metals, grain, and cement, machinery, fertilizer, rock phosphate, sulphur, vegetable oil and timber. - Main exports include coal, scrap metal, jute, gunnies, tea, grain, linseed, hides, castor oil, seeds, mica, cotton yarn, iron, steel, machinery and sugar. Handling Equipment: - Shore Cantilever Crane (200t) at NSD Storage: - Open (2,555 m2) - Covered (15,235 m2) Traffic figures: Approx. 3,500 vessels, 47,600,000t of cargo, 377,100TEU and 63,500 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: Bay of Bengal Seasonal Tropical Area Tropical Dec 1 to Apr 30 Summer May 1 to Nov 30. Max size: NS Dock: LOA 172m // Beam 24.3m (25m for vessels with LOA under 162m) // Draught 8.5m (up to 9.5m possible during freshets). Budge Budge Oil Jetties: LOA 189m // Beam 25.9m // Draught 6.8m. Sager Island Mooring Buoys: Panamax, draught 10.5m. The draft restriction for Kolkata as per D/F (Draft Forecast) published by port authorities