Kattupalli Port (INKAT), India
Kattupalli is a private deep-water seaport in Tamil Nadu, located approximately 4 km north of Ennore and within the wider Chennai port logistics cluster. Its position supports containerized cargo, project shipments, general cargo and selected bulk movements serving Chennai and the industrial hinterland of northern Tamil Nadu. The supplied port record identifies a 5 km navigational channel with a reported depth of 15 m, a maximum recorded vessel draught of 14 m, a maximum deadweight of 115,395 tonnes and a maximum recorded vessel length of 304 m. These figures should be treated as reference data for planning; vessel acceptance, berth windows and cargo restrictions require confirmation for each voyage. Our service team can coordinate the carrier, terminal and inland transport checks before booking.
UN/LOCODEINKAT
City / StateChennai / Tamil Nadu
Coordinates13.304730, 80.356060
Port TypePrivate seaport
Key Highlights
- Located in the Chennai–Ennore industrial belt, offering practical access to northern Tamil Nadu cargo origins and destinations.
- Container ships are the dominant vessel type in the supplied port profile, with general cargo and bulk vessels also recorded.
- The port record reports a 15 m channel depth and 14 m maximum draught; actual under-keel clearance and tidal restrictions must be checked voyage by voyage.
- Suitable planning focus: container exports and imports, machinery, project cargo, general cargo and selected industrial commodities.
- Schedule reliability can be affected by terminal cut-offs, weather, congestion in the Chennai road corridor, customs examination and carrier transshipment arrangements.
Facilities & Services
- Container handling: The port profile records container vessels as the principal calling segment. Equipment availability, reefer plugs, special cargo acceptance and yard capacity should be confirmed with the nominated terminal or carrier.
- General and project cargo: General cargo vessels are also recorded. Heavy lifts, over-dimensional units, breakbulk and project modules require advance review of lifting plans, dimensions, weight distribution and berth feasibility.
- Navigation and marine access: The supplied record describes northern and southern breakwaters and a dredged navigational channel. Pilotage, tidal windows and vessel manoeuvring limits remain subject to port approval.
- Yard and storage: Container storage, empty-container release, bonded handling and long-stay arrangements are normally controlled by the terminal, carrier or appointed depot; our team confirms availability before dispatch.
- Inland distribution: Road haulage is the principal planning interface for Chennai-area cargo. Truck type, axle limits, gate appointments and route restrictions should be checked before delivery or pickup.
Routes & Transit Times
- International container movements may be arranged through the carrier’s available service pattern, including direct or transshipment routing where offered. The final routing, vessel rotation and connection point must be confirmed against the booking.
- Common planning directions include South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and other Indian Ocean markets, but coverage and frequency vary by carrier and season.
- For LCL cargo, consolidation through an Indian gateway or overseas hub can add handling and connection time. Our team compares the cut-off, deconsolidation point and delivery plan rather than relying only on port-to-port sailing time.
- Transit time is affected by feeder connections, monsoon weather, terminal windows, customs examination, port omissions, transshipment dwell and inland road conditions. All quoted schedules are subject to carrier confirmation.
Hinterland & Key Cargo
Primary hinterlandChennai metropolitan area, northern Tamil Nadu and nearby industrial corridors. Final trucking feasibility depends on factory location, road access, vehicle dimensions and delivery appointment requirements.
Industrial profileAutomotive and auto components, engineering, electronics, machinery, chemicals, energy-related equipment and manufacturing inputs are relevant cargo groups for the wider Chennai region.
Typical container cargoFinished goods, components, raw materials, consumer products, machinery parts and temperature-sensitive shipments where reefer capacity is specifically confirmed.
Non-containerized cargoBreakbulk, heavy machinery, steel-related cargo, project equipment and selected bulk commodities may require separate terminal acceptance, lifting calculations and cargo-survey arrangements.
Operations & Compliance
- Cut-offs: Shipping instruction, VGM, customs documentation, cargo gate-in and hazardous-cargo documentation may each have separate deadlines. We recommend working to the earliest confirmed terminal or carrier cut-off, not the advertised sailing date.
- Dangerous goods: Provide the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, flash point where applicable, container details and safety documents before booking. Acceptance, segregation and terminal approval must be obtained in advance.
- Customs and examination: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading instructions, permits, certificates and product classification should be consistent. Examination, scanning or document queries can delay release and should be allowed for in delivery planning.
- Inland movement: Confirm factory loading conditions, container weight, road-worthy vehicle selection, empty pickup location, gate appointment and driver documentation. Oversized or overweight cargo needs route and authority review before dispatch.
Shipping Tips
- Send the cargo profile early, including commodity, HS classification, dimensions, gross weight, package count, reefer requirements and dangerous-goods status, so our service team can select a workable routing.
- For factory deliveries, build a buffer before the terminal cut-off and separately confirm empty release, truck availability, loading time and chassis or trailer suitability.
- Use moisture protection, blocking and lashing appropriate to the monsoon environment and cargo characteristics; project cargo should be supported by a packing sketch, centre-of-gravity data and lifting points.
- Where a direct sailing is unavailable or the schedule is unstable, our team can compare transshipment options, alternative Chennai-area gateways and different delivery sequences based on total landed logistics time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kattupalli the same as Chennai Port?Kattupalli is a separate private seaport north of Ennore, although it serves the broader Chennai logistics market. The UN/LOCODE for this page is INKAT; the nominated port code must match the carrier booking and shipping documents.
Can every container be booked directly to INKAT?No. Availability depends on the carrier’s current service network, vessel rotation, equipment and terminal acceptance. Our service team verifies the actual port pair and any transshipment before issuing a quote.
How early should dangerous goods be submitted?Submit the complete DG declaration and supporting documents before the carrier’s booking deadline. The applicable cut-off and approval sequence vary by class, packaging, vessel and terminal.
Will a 14 m draught vessel always be accepted?No. The supplied 14 m figure is a reported maximum reference, not a universal operating guarantee. Tide, under-keel clearance, channel condition, berth allocation and port approval must be confirmed for the nominated vessel.
What causes inland delivery delays?Common causes include terminal cut-off changes, customs inspection, gate appointments, equipment shortages, monsoon disruption, urban traffic and weight or dimension restrictions. We assess these items before arranging the truck.
Data Sources & Provenance
Port code, name, country, city, coordinates and the stated vessel, channel and draught parameters are reproduced from the supplied INKAT port record. Operational information such as berth availability, carrier routing, terminal cut-offs, dangerous-goods acceptance, customs procedures, storage and inland appointments is time-sensitive and must be reconfirmed for each shipment.
The linked domains are provided for source verification and operational cross-checking. Our service team confirms the carrier, terminal, customs and inland-transport details before final booking.