Shipping Route | Panambur Port | Shipping Industry Mangalore

Shipping route to Mangaluru is significant for both foreign and Indian ships. Indian west coast as well as the coastal city, both have been mentioned in the legends and history. The city has been described in the manuscripts available at the Great Library of Alexendria in Egypt. Romans described river Netravathi as Nitras in their history. European nations had their influence over the city since 1498, when Vasco da Gama landed at the Saint Mary's Island near Malpe. He was the Portuguese explorer who entered India through the sea route.

Ship at New Mangalore Port

In the Greek drama, both Udyavara and Mangalore towns were described and the origin of the name is mentioned clearly. Trade route for silk and spices between the city and West Asian countries was established by the Arabs. King Tipu Sultan’s soldiers always looked at the movement of ships in and around Sultan Battery area. His army horses grazed in a place, Kudre-valli where the present Kudroli temple has been built.

In the present scenario, Lakshadweep island people have good trading links with traders in Bunder yard, as the yard is near the old Mangalore port. The old port is mainly used by fishing boats and ferrying of small goods. The fishing industry has employed thousands of people and their products are being exported from the region.

Mangalore is grown and developed into a rich industrial hub. The old port at Bunder area could no more match the growing demands of New Mangalore and the modernization in shipping industry. A new shipping port was needed to meet the modern day requirements and the construction work started in 1962 at a place by name Panambur. On May 4, 1974, the new Mangalore port was declared as the ninth major port of India. Late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi had formally inaugurated the New Mangalore Port Trust administrative building on January 11, 1975. Initially, both the project and port was under the management of the central government of the country. 

On April 1, 1980 the then Minister for Shipping & Transport, A.P. Sharma inaugurated the Port Trust Board and was established under the major Port Trust Act, specially for the administration of New Mangalore Port. The Port Trust Board has been operating as 10th significant trust for ports of India, since that time.

New Mangalore Port Trust operates the deep-water, all-weather port. It is the only major port of Karnataka state. It has a lot of contribution in the economic development of the state. It is located 122 nautical miles (226km) south of Karwar port and 191nautical miles (354km) towards north from the Kochi port. The shipping route to the Marmugao port, Goa is located 170 nautical miles (310km) north of Mangaluru port. The beautiful Mukka and Tannir Bavi beaches are on the shore of the Arabian Sea, to the south of the New Mangalore port. Gurupur(Phalguni) river joins the sea at the south of Panambur.

Mangalore to Goa by Ship is a distant dream. There are no ships on this sea route until date. Konkan rail travel is best for Goa tourists. But there are cruise ships that travel to Marmugao Port during season i.e. between November to May. They are very expensive and Indians rarely travel in these cruise ships, along the Indian coastal line. The cruise ships come all the way from Dubai, Muscat or Abudhabi. They further travel to Singapore, China etc.
The Cruise ship - Seabourn Encore will be called in at Mangalore on Thursday, 02 November, 2017.
*The last 2 columns below are Arrival and Departure timings of cruise ships.  
Oceania Nautica -          Wednesday,  15 November, 2017  08:00* 18:00*.
Seven Seas Voyager -   Tuesday,       21 November, 2017 08:00 18:00
AIDAbella -                     Tuesday,       05 December, 2017 08:00 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - Monday,        11 December, 2017 09:00 17:00
Celebrity Constellation - Tuesday,       26 December, 2017 09:00 19:00 

In 2018, AIDAbella       - March 13, 2018          09:00 - 19:00
Celebrity Constellation - January 08, 2018       09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - January 21, 2018       09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - March 04, 2018          08:00 - 17:00
Celebrity Constellation - March 17, 2018          09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - March 30, 2018          09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - April 15, 2018             08:00 - 17:00
Celebrity Constellation - December 02, 2018    09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - December 15, 2018    09:00 - 18:00
Celebrity Constellation - December 26, 2018    09:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - January 09, 2018        07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - January 23, 2018        07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - February 06, 2018       07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - February 20, 2018       07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - March 06, 2018           07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - March 20, 2018           07:00 - 18:00
Costa neoClassica       - October 30, 2018        07:00
Costa neoClassica       - December 11, 2018    07:00
Costa neoClassica       - December 25, 2018    07:00
Crystal Serenity            - April 12, 2018             08:00 - 18:00
Oceania Insignia           - March 03, 2018          08:00 - 18:00
Oceania Nautica           - April 26, 2018             09:00 - 18:00
Oceania Nautica           - December 14, 2018    08:00 - 18:00
Seven Seas Voyager    - May 04, 2018             09:00 - 19:00
Seabourn Encore         - April 01, 2018              08:00 - 18:00
Seabourn Encore         - November 17, 2018     07:00 - 16:00
Seabourn Ovation      - December 13, 2018      07:00 - 16:00

Indian Naval Hydrographic office chart number is 2002 for the Mangalore Harbour, New Mangalore Port it is 2048 and for approaches to New Mangalore Port it is 2052. The location is latitude - 12°55'5'North and Longitude - 74°48'5" East. The communication network operates round the clock, connected by the Radio Wireless Station with a range of 500km. The VHF channels are 16 and 12 with call sign VWL.

Address: New Mangalore Port, Panambur, New Mangalore – 575 020, Karnataka, India.
Contact Tel: +91 824 240 7300.

Round the clock navigation is possible with transit towers, buoys, all provided with good lighting for night navigation. The infrastructure has been strengthened with six lines and high mast lights illuminate the entire operational area. One of the lines extends till the wharf area. The infrastructure in the area has deep-draught berth of 14metres, and harbour mobile cranes to handle gearless vessels that do not possess cranes or conveyors.

Railway sidings are provided to connect the trunk railway with adequate storage space and facilities. Broad Gauge Railway line that serves the port is well connected with Mangalore, Kerala State and Chennai. National highway no. 66(NH-66) passes adjoining the port. Thokur has a railway station nearby, but Suratkal is the railway station meant for the Konkan rail passengers. The Broad Gauge Line from Mangalore Central station connects directly to the capital city, Bangalore via Hassan and other important towns of Karnataka. Daily direct flights operate from Bajpe international airport to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. It is just 18km away.

The Konkan railway line that connects Mumbai with Mangalore can be reached by road 6km away at Surathkal railway station. The railway line connects the city to the northern region though Mumbai. Many factories like Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers and Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited are situated in the Panambur area.

NMPT handled a record traffic of 37 million tonnes of cargo in the financial year 2012-13 and registered a growth of 12.4 percent. The cargo traffic has increased due to the handling of maize, coal, POL crude and containerised cargo. The port handled 14 gearless vessels (without cranes) and handled 15 cruise liners with 10,196 passengers in the year 2012-13.

Best port in the whole country for modernized LPG handling facilities. It is well equipped with facilities needed to face the growing demands and challenges in the coming years. It handles the exports like the bulk, manganese, huge granite stones, coffee, cashew nut, iron ore concentrates and pellets and containerized cargo. The imports contain liquid chemicals and hazardous cargoes like finished fertilizers, liquid ammonia, phosphoric acid, LPG, crude, other petroleum products, wood pulp, timber logs etc. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals is the major user, with huge movement of cargo in the area. Coal handling by various agencies at NMPT has increased significantly. Port serves as a very useful shipping route to send the cargo to nearby Kerala and other neighboring states.

Cruise Ship - Seabourn Quest

Cruise ships or Cruise liners have been called in at New Mangalore port every year between November and April months. People take more interest in enjoying their holidays on the cruise lines, these days. Cruise industry has the potential to grow at almost 25-30 per cent per annum. Foreign cruise lines offer attractive packages and use various marketing strategies to get more passengers. The number of luxury cruise liners that visit NMPT has been increasing steadily and Mangaluru has become one of the favorite tourist destinations. The facilities offered at the port and the tour operators are appreciated by the visiting ship captains and passengers.

Distance by Sea to Nearby Ports in India and Srilanka:
New Mangalore Port to Mormugao Port, Goa - 170 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Colombo Port, Srilanka - 534 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Mumbai Port - 409 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Calicut (Kozhikode) Port - 136 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Cochin Port - 202 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Karwar Port - 131 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Jaigad Port, Ratnagiri - 277 nautical miles
New Mangalore Port to Chennai Port - 797 nautical miles  

Cruise Packages for enjoyment on islands in the Arabian Sea

M V Amindvi cruise ship starts from New Mangalore Port and M V Minicoy cruise ship from Beypore (Calicut) of Kerala State. But it will be a 3 day tour to the Lakshadweep islands. Rates will be around Rs. 10,000 for transportation. Cruise ships operate from the month of October to May every year. Please inquire at the Port. 

Island View from Sea

There are packages like the Coral reef package, Swaying palm package, Marine wealth awareness programme, Taratashi package and Weekend/one island tourist package.

Weekend / One Island tour to Kalpeni, Minicoy, Kavaratti and Kadmat is a one day excursion package. The cruise ships start on Saturday from Mangalore, Beypore and Kochi to reach the islands. Time will be spent at the islands on Sunday and return on Monday mornings. 

Cruise ships that start from Kochi in Kerala state to the nearby Islands:

Lakshadweep Island

M V Kavaratti Cruise Ship - Samudram Package for 4 or 5 days tour to Lakshadweep Island. Rates are Rs. 24,000 for Adults and Rs. 17,000 for children (1-10years). Kids up to 1 year can travel free of charge. Rate for students group (minimum 15 Nos) is Rs. 21,800 for 5 Days + taxes extra

Tourists will be visiting Kavaratti, Kalpeni and Minicoy Islands on a four or five day tour starting from Kochi. At Kavaratti there are luxury cottages at resorts near Kadmat beach.

Kadmat Island is situated 407km from Kochi city of Kerala state. The island has blue water lagoon encircling the colorful coral habitats, reef banks and enjoyable clean beaches. The island is known for its marine wealth. The coral reef, sea grass, beautiful beaches and nesting ground for marine turtles have altogether created a lovely environment for islanders and visitors.

The island is the largest in the Lakshadweep Island group. It has a spindle shape, wide in the middle tapering towards a narrow strip at the southern end. Kadmat is a 8km long and 550m wide island. Major features of the island are the sandy beaches, reef flat, island vegetation, reef slope and lagoon.

Activities like snorkeling, windsurfing, swimming, rafting, water skiing, yachting, catamaran sailing, parasailing,  sports fishing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving are enjoyable and a good pastime at the islands. Scuba diving is an activity for visitors of all levels. Divers can have a great experience while exploring the underwater wonders and magnificent seascapes.

Fishing activity is encouraged for those who enjoy eating fish like the Stonefish, Tuna, Kingfish, Shark, Barracuda, Snappers and Bonefish etc. The island is best suited for the migratory routes of the large game fish.  Fishing in Lakshadweep is a very much eco-friendly known as the poll and line method. In this method of fishing younger fishes will be spared. Suheli Island fishing trip is for great fishing men who can take the boats for deep sea fishing. For leisure fishing activity there is Lagoon fishing.

Cargo and Shipping Agents: 

Some sea carriers in the below given list are able to meet the challenges and deadlines of the overseas shipping itinerary. They are able to ship FCL (full container load) or LCL (less than container load) shipments anywhere - door to door. But enquire the agent and ask the locals before going for the deal.

Coastline Express, 1/150, Mangalore - Bangalore Highway, Mlr-2. Tel: +91 824 426 3108.

Cargo links, 1st Floor, Abco Trade Centre, Kottara Chowki, Kottara Chowki, Mlr-6. Tel: +91 98450 84299, +91 824 245 8765/245 9135.

Cochin Shipping Company, Alvares Centre, Nanthoor, Mlr-5. Tel: + 91 824 2211792/2215722/2212373/2212020.

Mangalore Shipping Company, KKJA Committee Building, No.1-15-99/3, 1st Floor, Chilimbi, Urwa Stores, Mlr-6. Tel: +91 824 2459025.

Essar Group, Krishna Towers, 1st Floor, Ladyhill, Mlr-6. Tel: +91 824 2456923.

Exclusive Shipping & Exports, 4th Floor, Ashirwad Building, GHS Road, Mlr-1. Tel: 91 824 2440913.

Worldwide Shipping Inc., No. 202, Veekay Towers, Kulur Bangre Road, Kulur, Mlr-13. Tel: +91 824 2454811.

Gac Shipping (india) Pvt. Ltd., Abco Trade Centre, 4th Floor, Kottara Chowki, Mlr-6. Tel: +91 824 2450425/2450426.

Atlantic Shipping Pvt. Ltd., 3rd Floor, City Point, Kodialbail, Navbharath Circle, Mlr-3. Tel: +91 824 2441050/2440738.

Interocean Shipping (india) Pvt. Ltd., 203, Veekay Towers, Kulur Ferry Road, Kulur, Mlr-13. Tel: +91 824 2452131/2452631.

Sea Star Shipping Agencies, SRM Building, 3rd Floor, Kuloor, Mlr-13. Tel: +91 824 245 2663.

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