Calcutta, India
Calcutta, India’s former colonial capital, is renowned as the cultural and intellectual heart of the nation.
Port Overview
Calcutta, officially known as the Port of Kolkata (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port), is located in Kolkata, West Bengal, about 200 km inland on the Hooghly River. It is India’s oldest operating port and the only major riverine port in the country. Strategically, it serves as a gateway for northern and eastern India, as well as landlocked neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan. The port ranks among India’s major ports and handles approximately 830,000 TEUs annually, supporting significant regional and international trade.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Calcutta (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata) features two main dock systems: Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex. Key terminals include Netaji Subhas Dock for containers and specialized berths for bulk, break-bulk, oil, and project cargo. Facilities offer container yards, extensive warehousing, and advanced material handling. Equipment includes eight new mobile harbour cranes, floating cranes at Sagar Island, and modern vessel traffic management. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are not yet widely deployed.
Container Terminals
The Port of Kolkata operates two main dock systems with container handling facilities. Netaji Subhas Dock has 4 dedicated container berths with capacity of approximately 165,000 TEUs initially, now expanding. Kidderpore Dock recently opened the Century Ports Terminal with 165,000 TEU capacity. JSW Infrastructure is developing mechanized berths 7 and 8 with 500,000 TEU capacity, investing ₹740 crore. The port features modern automation including Mobile Harbour Cranes and Terminal Operating Systems for efficient operations.
Port Services
- Container handling: Dedicated terminals for containerized cargo, including feeder services to major transshipment hubs.
- Cargo operations: Facilities for bulk, breakbulk, liquid, and general cargo handling.
- Ship services: Pilotage, towage, ship repair, bunkering, and marine supplies.
- Warehousing: On-dock and off-dock storage, bonded warehouses, and cold storage.
- Customs: Full customs clearance, documentation, and regulatory compliance support.
Global Connectivity
Kolkata (Calcutta) Port, located on the Hooghly River, serves as a major gateway for eastern and northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Bangladesh. It is connected to regional ports such as Haldia and supports trade with Bangladesh via inland waterways. Internationally, Kolkata is linked by feeder services to major transshipment hubs like Colombo, Singapore, and Port Kelang, enabling access to global shipping routes and key markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Port Statistics
Port: Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (Calcutta), India
TEU Throughput (2023-24): 642,218 TEUs
TEU Throughput (Apr-Jun 2025): 234,270 TEUs
World Ranking: Not in global top 50; 4th among Indian major ports for container handling
Number of Berths: 34 (Kolkata Dock System: 18, Haldia Dock Complex: 16)
Port Area: Approx. 4,500 acres (including dock systems and terminals)
Shipping Lines: Served by all major global and regional shipping lines, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and others.
