13th Major Port of Galathea Bay | 23 Oct 2024

The mega International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, located on Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal, has been officially designated as the 13th major port in India. Kamarajar Port located on the Coromandel Coast (Chennai) was named the country’s 12th major port.

About ICTP at Galathea Bay:
- Strategic Location: The ICTP is along the East-West international trade and shipping route, close to key transshipment hubs such as Singapore, Klang, and Colombo. This location enhances its importance within global trade networks.
  - Located just 40 nautical miles from the Malacca Strait, a key shipping route handling 35% of global sea trade, the port has strong potential as a major transshipment hub for cargo from India's east coast, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- Economic Advantage: Currently, nearly 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is handled at foreign ports,the ICTP aims to reduce this dependency.
  - It could help Indian ports save an estimated USD 200-220 million annually in transshipment charges.
Great Nicobar Island:
- It is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of 836 islands, divided into two groups: the northern Andaman Islands and the southern Nicobar Islands, separated by the 10° Channel.