Port Pipavav

Port Pipavav, is a port on the west coast of India located in the Amreli district in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, 90 km South of Amreli, 15 km South of Rajula and 140 km Southwest of Bhavnagar.

The port has cargo operations for containers, bulk, liquid and roll-on/roll-off cargo and a shipyard that builds naval vessels.

Cargo port
In 1986 the Indian government authorized an expenditure of 5 million rupees to initiate port development near the village of Pipavav in Amreli district of the state of Gujarat in India. The company Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited was incorporated on August 5, 1992 to build, construct, operate and maintain the port. The company was initially a joint venture between GMB and the SKIL Ports & Logistics division of the SKIL Infrastructure group (now known as Mercantile Ports and Logistics (MPL)).

In June 1998, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) divested its stake in favour of SKIL Ports & Logistics. In 2000, the port formed a joint venture with Indian Railways to start Pipavav Rail Corporation Limited. Commercial operations started in 2002.

The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group acquired a 13.5% equity interest in the company in June 2001. Pursuant to the share sale and purchase agreement dated March 30, 2005, SKIL Infrastructure, Nikhil Gandhi, Montana Valves and Compressors and Grevek Investment and Finance divested their shareholding in the company in favour of APM Terminals.

Shipyard
Construction of a shipyard adjoining the port was completed in 2010 by Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Limited. In 2011 the shipyard won its first contract to build warships for the Indian Navy.

The shipyard company was renamed to Reliance Defence and Engineering on 3 March 2016 and again renamed to Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited on 6 September 2017.

Shialbet island
Shialbet island is a natural breakwater facing the wharves of the port. It is inhabited by a small fishing community and is connected to the mainland.

Cargo operations
The cargo port is owned by operated by a public company Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd., and is operated by their majority owner APM Terminals, who are one of the largest container terminal operators in the world. Container, bulk, liquid, LPG an Roll-on/roll-off cargo can be handled. Services provided include pilotage/towage, cargo handling and logistics support.

Port characteristics
The port is along the major trade routes and is close to the major Indian Port of Nhava Sheva (about 160 Nm). It has been dredged to 14.5 m draft. There are 8 Quay cranes for containers and 2 mobile harbor cranes for handling bulk cargo. It is a captive reefer port.