LOCATION
The port is situated at latitude 16° 09’N and longitude 81° 09’E on northern bank of serpentine salt creek flowing from Bandar tidal lock of Krishna delta system. The old and new ports are located about 7 Km and 2 Km respectively inside the salt creek from confluence with sea. Port is well connected with rail and road networks.
ENTRANCE CHANNEL
Machilipatnam port faced the problem of bar formation, which restricted the depth of water at the entrance. Detailed model and other investigations were conducted by the CWPRS, Pune, and corrective measures as recommended by them have been completed. Two short grayness of 203 m length each were constructed on either side of 120m wide entrance channel cut through the sand spit. Water depth of about 1 m is available over the bar at low tide. The tidal ranges on salt creek at springs and neaps are 1.3m and 0.4m respectively.
EXISTING FACILITIES
At the new port, 10 RCC finger jetties for small boats, transit sheds and signal station are existing. Light house facility is also available.
PAST TRAFFIC
This port has handled park traffic of 0.27 million tonnes in 1956-57 but over the years traffic has dwindled due to short comings of entrance channel. Recently, the bulk machinery to Kondapally Power Plant has been handled from Kakinada Port through barges.
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
This port has a good potential for handling coal requirements of Vijawada Thermal Power Plant running to 10.00 mmtpa and also the requirements of the other cement plants spread over in the Krishna belt. The hinterland of port includes, Krishna, West Godavari, Khammam, Nalgonda, Hyderabad and other Telangana Districts. These areas have predominantly fertile lands. Major agricultural producers are paddy, sugar cane, pulses, tobacco, chilies and fruits. The mineral resources include lime stone (cement & flux grade), lime kankar, barrytes, chromite and granite. The major industries in the hinterland are therefore relating to rice and vegetable oil, sugar and cement. Future major industries under implementation and planning are also for similar products and production of salt.
There is good potential for its development as a Deep Water Port / Major Port.

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