Context: In a notable improvement in the efficient handling of ships and cargo, nine Indian ports have secured positions in the top 100 of the Container Port Performance Index 2023 (CPPI 2023) by the World Bank, out of 405 ports worldwide. 

Key highlights

• The top two ports in the rankings were Yangshan in China and Salalah in Oman.

• For the first time, a government-owned Indian port, Visakhapatnam, ranked 19th, while the Adani- owned Mundra port ranked 27th. 

• In 2022, Visakhapatnam was ranked 115th and Mundra 48th. Officials from the ports and shipping ministry highlighted this improvement as a milestone for India's maritime industry, attributing it to enhanced operational efficiency and service delivery.

• Visakhapatnam port showed impressive performance with 27.5 moves per crane hour, a turnaround time (TRT) of 21.4 hours, and minimal berth idle time, demonstrating its ability to handle container ships efficiently and attract customer preference. 

• The other Indian ports ranked within the top 100 are Pipavav (41), Kamarajar (47), Cochin (63), Hazira (68), Krishnapatnam (71), Chennai (80), and Jawaharlal Nehru (96). 

About Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2023

• The CPPI, developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, provides a comparative assessment of port performance based on vessel time in ports. 

• It rates the effectiveness of container ports around the world, mainly looking at how long ships stay in port. This index is an important standard in the maritime business because it shows how  productive and well-run ports are.