Ports & Harbours division is the cornerstone of the Coastal & Offshore Engineering Laboratory at CWPRS. This division stands as a beacon of innovation and expertise, playing a pivotal role in the growth and enhancement of our nation's vital ports and maritime infrastructure. Through its comprehensive physical and mathematical models, this division has left an indelible mark on the development and expansion of major ports across India. From the bustling hubs of Visakhapatnam and Chennai to the strategic strongholds of New Mangalore and Kamrajar, its contributions have been instrumental in shaping their success. Commitment of Ports and Harbours extends beyond the major players; as it has also lent its expertise to the growth of minor ports, fishing harbours, and classified naval installations.

With a keen focus on meeting the diverse requirements of different ports, it is ensured that every project is handled with precision and excellence. Ports and Harbour division has rich experience in maintaining physical models of major Indian ports, is a testament to its dedication to the field. But what truly sets Ports and Harbour apart is its comprehensive approach to coastal and offshore engineering. From designing harbor layouts and optimizing breakwater alignments to studying wave tranquility for berthing structures and identifying erosion/accretion patterns, it covers every aspect with finesse. Its capabilities span from determining sand trap locations and reclaiming safe grade elevations to providing crucial inputs for mathematical models and conducting prototype investigations using cutting-edge techniques like radioactive tracer studies. In essence at the Ports and Harbour division, innovation meets expertise, where every wave of progress begins.

Broad Areas of Expertise

• Comprehensive Studies for overall development of Ports and Harbours includes
• Hydrodynamic flow modeling for finalizing alignments of berths/Wharfs/navigational channel, impact of reclamations on surrounding flow field, estimation of siltation in harbours/berth pockets/channels, identification of dumping grounds for disposal of dredged spoil etc.
• Assessment of wave tranquility in the harbours.
• Assessing impact of proposed port development on shoreline changes and suggesting remedial measures.
• Identification of dumping sites for disposal of dredged material.
• Assessing Ship motion at berths, ship maneuvering studies etc.
• Physical modeling studies for all major port and harbours through established well set up and calibrated physical models to provide solutions related to design from the consideration of wave, tide, hydrodynamic and sediment perspective.
• Optimisation of structures based on physical and mathematical model studies.
• Field data collection and desk studies for supporting studies of Ports and Harbours.
• Estimation of storm surge.
• Ocean wave hindcasting & extreme wave height analysis.
• Flood inundation mapping under extreme Oceanic/hydro-meteorological weather events.
• Determination of safe grade elevations.

Significant Contributions

• Visakhapatnam Port.

Physical Model Studies and Hydrodynamic Studies withIntegrated Mathematical Model for for development of following at Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh

• Outer Harbour
• Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU)
• Improving capacity utilization of OR1, OR2 & fertilizer berths
• Shifting the Sand trap
• Beach nourishment on Northern stretch

• Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

Physical and Mathematical Model Studies to study the impact of

• Capital Dredging in Naval Dockyards
• Development of Garden of Haji Burder
• Effect of modification in shape of reclamation and dredged area on the flow field
• Development of floating storage and regasification unit in Mumbai Harbour
• Development of Wadhvan Port

• Comprehensive Physical and mathematical modeling studies for Mormugao Port, Goa Chennai Port &Ennore Port, Tamil Nadu, Paradip Port, Odisha New Mangalore Port, Karnataka and Deendayal Port in Gujarat.
• Development of ‘state-of-art’ and ‘first of its kind’ Physical model of 1: 40 G.S scale by modelling dam spillway along with down-stream wave basin to play vital role in the design of Flagship ‘Kalpasar Project’ of Gujarat state government.
• Development of International Airport at Navi-Mumbai for CIDCO.
• Hydraulic studies for 22 km long Mumbai-Trans harbour Link bridge, Mumbai.
• Model studies for 2 km long Container Terminal for JN port.
• Mega Port development at Vadhavan.
• Developed a fully automatic wave-cum-flow model with 1:120 G.S (geometrically similar) scale along with captive sump for the optimum design of Naval harbour.
• Optimisation of areas for reclamation deriving safe-grade elevations and design of ‘flood-corridor’ by conducting comprehensive hydrodynamic model studies simulating various ‘fluvial flows and ‘sea tidal conditions’ incorporating ‘storm surge’ and ‘sea level rise’ components for a Mega project in Andhra Pradesh.
• Conducted numerical wave model studies for proposed Mega port having single long breakwater of 9.8 Km at Vadhvan, Maharashtra.
• Conducted extensive wave tranquility studies on rigid bed physical wave model equipped with Random Sea Wave Generating system, SCADA and Multi-channel Data Acquisition systems for a major port like V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu achieving tranquility in the inner and outer harbours.
• Ascertained wave tranquility conditions with the help of physical model studies and features of Mormugao port in Vasco bay are finalized without the necessity of initially contemplated 1Km long off-shore breakwater saving billions of rupees.
• Optimized the approach channel dimensions using mathematical model/ desk studies for five major ports like Pardip Port Odisha, NMPT Port Karnataka, V.O. Chidambarnar Port Tuticorin Tamilnadu, Cochin Port Kerala, Deendayal Port Gujarat and for two minor ports (Old Mangalore Port and Captive jetty at Tirukadaiyur, Tamil Nadu. Contributed through Navigational risk studies for the Birla Copper Jetty at Dahej Port, Gujarat.
• Evolved the anti-erosion bunds and suitable training walls to stabilize the fishing harbour mouth and resist from probable siltation at Mulagaon, Shrivardhan and at Anjarale fishing harbours, Maharashtra.
• Evolved the suitable mooring arrangement for vessels moored for berth no.17 at NMPT, Mangalore and for development of outer harbour at V.O. Chidambarnar Port, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
• Physical and Mathematical Model Studies for Wave Tranquility and Sedimentation for development of Jetty and Cruise Terminal at Bhagwati Bandar in Rantagiri Distrct, Maharahstraand Mopla bay in Kerala.
• Wave hindcasting and storm surge analysis at Porbander and Okha Gujarat.
• Radio-Active Tracer Studies at Visakhapatnam Port.