Imagine sipping coffee and snacking while watching ships glide in, tugboats manoeuvre giant vessels and towering cranes swing into action. Visakhapatnam is set to offer the public a real-time glimpse into maritime operations with the launch of the Port Promenade next week.
“Ports are often enigmatic spaces for the common man — restricted, industrial, and rarely seen up close — yet they evoke enduring curiosity. We will provide a rare opportunity to the general public to witness this from about 100 metres away,” M Angamuthu, Chairperson, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), told businessline.
The port handles around 2,500 ships annually, and visitors can watch tugboats guide vessels to berths from the over 600-metre-long promenade overlooking the International Cruise Terminal.
Historically, ports have been viewed as restricted zones — vital to the economy, but detached from public life. The promenade project seeks to change that perception. Without compromising security, it allows citizens to engage visually with the port, understand its scale, appreciate maritime activity and reconnect with an institution that shaped Visakhapatnam’s growth.
Maritime theatre
“Moving ships, cranes, docking sequences, container yards and cruise liners become part of the visual narrative. The promenade transforms maritime operations into a form of urban theatre,” Angamuthu said.
While port promenades are not new globally, VPA says the Vizag experience will stand apart. “This one coexists with an active port and is not a redeveloped waterfront,” Angamuthu said.
Many waterfront promenades around the world have come up on abandoned docks, reclaimed industrial land or along beaches. In contrast, Visakhapatnam Port remains fully operational, with cargo ships moving continuously, berths active and logistics infrastructure functioning uninterrupted.
Vizag Port, officially opened to ocean traffic in 1933, recorded its highest-ever annual cargo throughput of 90.29 million tonnes in FY26, achieved in just 362 days. VPA is eyeing over 100 mt in FY27.
Published on May 11, 2026