ports

Major Container Lines Vie for Ennore Port's Second Terminal Development

India's Ennore Port is drawing significant interest from global shipping lines ahead of a planned tender for a second container terminal near Chennai. The port authority has finalized plans to solicit bids for the $450 million project, which will feature a 1,000-metre quay with a capacity of 2 million teu upon completion. The development will proceed under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer model with private sector participation. Industry sources indicate CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, partnered with JM Baxi Group, are likely bidders. Adani Ports currently operates Ennore's sole container facility but faces regulatory headwinds due to India's competition rules against monopolistic control in public ports, which prevent it from bidding on the new scheme. The port authority is targeting completion of the tender process by year-end. MSC holds a 49% stake in an existing Ennore container project through subsidiary TiL.