Ship chandlers & ship supply at Chennai (ex Madras) INMAA

Chennai Port, at 13°06′N 080°18′E, began commercial operations in 1881 behind breakwaters built after storms wrecked the first piers; its entrance was later moved to the north-east for shelter. It counts 27 berths on about 6 km of quay across three docks — Dr Ambedkar Dock (inner harbour), Jawahar Dock and Bharathi Dock (outer harbour) — and hosted India’s first dedicated container terminal in 1983.^[1,2]

—Traffic: 54.96 million tonnes in 2024–25 — about 63% containers and 28% liquid bulk — and 57.90 million tonnes in 2025–26 on the port’s own performance sheet.^[3,4]

—Containers: Chennai Container Terminal (CCTPL, DP World) works Bharathi Dock berths CTB 1–4 on an 885 m quay with 7 quay cranes and 362 reefer plugs; Chennai International Terminals (CITPL, PSA Chennai) works SCB 1–3 in the Ambedkar Dock on 832 m with 7 quay cranes and 304 reefer plugs.^[5,6]

—Permissible drafts as of 1 January 2026: Bharathi Dock BD II and BD III 16.5 m (BD III 17.0 m at high water), BD I 14.6 m, container berths 13.4–15.0 m, Jawahar Dock 12.5–14.0 m, Ambedkar Dock West Quays 11.0–12.0 m, and the bunker berth 9.0 m. Since February 2025 Jawahar Dock takes ships up to 32.26 m beam.^[7,8]

—Oil: the Bharathi Dock oil berths take tankers up to 160,000 dwt (BD I) and 140,000 dwt (BD III), maximum LOA 280.4 m, with fresh-water and bunker service lines and MARPOL reception for oily ballast, sludge and slop. A cruise terminal for 1,000 passengers opened in 2018.^[5,2]

The harbour is approached through a 7.0 km channel with 19.2 m at chart datum in the outer channel and 18.6 m in the inner channel; tides are semi-diurnal with mean high water springs about 1.1 m above chart datum. Pilotage is compulsory above 200 GRT — not for vessels up to 200 GRT or craft licensed under the port’s harbour-craft rules — and the pilotage fee covers one inward and one outward movement.^[2,9]

—Radio: the VTS / Signal Station / Harbour Control works VHF 10 and 16, shipping operations VHF 12 and 14. Masters keep a continuous watch on VHF 10 and report readiness for pilotage at least one hour ahead on channel 10. The pilot also acts as assistant port facility security officer and signs the Declaration of Security on boarding.^[6,10]

—Pilot ladder: where freeboard exceeds 9 m, a combination ladder (pilot ladder with accommodation ladder) must be rigged; repeated unsafe pilot ladders draw a charge on the agent under the Scale of Rates.^[10,9]

—Anchorage is the area outside the breakwater within port limits. Since August 2026 Trade Notice 05/2026 runs an “Integrated Offshore Maritime Services Hub” there: ships calling only at the outer anchorage — no cargo or passengers — for bunkering, provisions, stores, spares, crew change, sick-crew landing, repairs, underwater work, surveys or inspections get an 85% concession on port dues and anchorage fee up to 50,000 GRT, 90% above, until review on 31 March 2027.^[9,11]

—Weather: the north-east monsoon brings rain in October and November, with waves of about 2.5–3 m during the monsoon season; the port lists cyclones among its disaster risks. Plan anchorage work in that season with your agent.^[2]

Bunkers are delivered within port limits at berth or at anchorage. The port names Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) as supplier of its bunker requirement, offering VLSFO 0.5% S, LSMGO 0.1% S and HSFO up to 3.5% S for scrubber-fitted ships. A ship waiting for bunkers after cargo work gets an 8-hour grace period from cargo completion before extra berth hire, instead of the usual 4 hours.^[12,13]

—Fresh water (Marine Department SOP of 1 September 2026): the agent requisitions at least 24 hours before arrival or berthing; delivery runs 24×7 by port-licensed tanker lorries, and every supply must finish 2 hours before departure or shifting. The SOP has the ship’s officer acknowledge the water as untreated — treat it on board before drinking. At BD I and BD III the port supplies water by line.^[14,9]

—Waste: ships use any of the port’s empanelled reception providers, engaged and paid by the master or agent, with requests to the Harbour Master. Under DG Shipping’s Swachh Sagar rules every ship declares its waste whether or not it lands any, weekly while at anchorage, preferably 24 hours or more before arrival; non-compliance can mean denial of entry. Since September 2025 garbage collection also needs Marine, Traffic and Customs clearance, Customs scanning and removal within 24 hours.^[15,16]

—Pre-arrival filing: agents and masters file the pre-arrival notification, dangerous-goods declaration and FAL forms through the Maritime Single Window on the NLP(M) portal (Sagar Setu), and put documents and ETA on the Port Community System at least 24 hours before arrival; the agent submits the pilot memo and confirms arrival particulars with the Signal Station / VTMS.^[17,10]

—Port and immigration clearances must be on board before sailing.^[10]

—Provisions, stores, spares and fresh water — alongside or at the outer anchorage: post a requirement and chandlers serving Chennai answer with sealed bids — suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships at Chennai, be the first supplier in.

—Kamarajar Port at Ennore, north of the city, is a separate major port with its own code (INENR); Chennai Port Authority acquired Kamarajar Port Ltd in March 2020.^[1]

—On India’s west coast, Kochi and New Mangalore have their own guides; across the Gulf of Mannar, so does Colombo.