GENESIS

Ennore is situated on the coromandal coast about 24km north of Chennai Port along the coast line, in the State of Tamil Nadu, India, . It is the 12the Major Port in India and the first Corporatised Major Port in India.

Ennore Port was originally conceived as a satellite port to the Chennai Port, primarily to handle thermal coal to meet the requirement of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The scope was expanded taking into account subsequent developments such as the plan of Government of Tamil Nadu to set up

1. A 1880 mw LNG power project in association with a Private consortium
2. A large Petro Chem Park
3. A Naphtha Cracker Plant

The pollution and environmental hazards caused while handling iron ore and coal in the Chennai harbour and nearby habitations also necessitated shifting these cargo items from the Chennai Port.

This was the rationale behind planning of berths for coal berth (for users other than TNEB) Iron ore, LNG, POL, Chemical and other liquids and Crude to serve various industires that would come up on the proposed Perto Chem Park. These factors have contributed to the evolution of Ennore Port as a multi-functional energy port of the New Millennium.

The Phase I development of Ennore Port has been completed. The port was inaugurated and dedicated to the Nation by the Honorable Prime Minister of India on 1.2.2001. Commercial operations commenced with Handymax geared vessels for unloading of thermal coal on 22.6.2001. With the deployment of self-unloading and gearless vessels of 65000/77000 DWT, full-fledged operations were started since December 2002.