Mumbai (India)

Mumbai (aka Bombay) is a major Indian Ocean port and capital city of India's Maharashtra state (country's second-most populous and the world's 9th most populous). The city has urban population around 12,5 million (metro 18,5+ million).

Mumbai City is located on India's west coast and features a deepwater natural harbor. The city is also the country's wealthiest and is currently ranked the world's 37th by metro GDP. Mumbai also has India's highest number of millionaires and billionaires. The city is India's commercial, financial and entertainment capital, and among the world's top 10 in terms of financial flow (generates over 6% of India's GDP), accounting for 25% of India's industrial output, 70% of its maritime shipping trade and 70% of all capital transactions.

During British Raj (British India period 1858-1947), most of the buildings were constructed in Gothic Revival style - with Dutch roofs, German gables, Swiss facade timbering, casements, arches, plus traditional for India elements.

Approx 280 km (170 mi) to the north of Mumbai (direct/sea distance) is located the Alang Shipbreaking Yard, where are dismantled and recycled over 50% of the world's retired marine vessels.

Port Mumbai

Mumbai City is served by two main seaports - Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT). The Port (locode INBOM) features one of the world's best natural harbors, as well as extensive wetdock and drydock facilities.

Commissioned on May 26, 1989, Jawaharlal Nehru Port is India's busiest seaport. It handles around 60% of the country's total containerized cargo.

Ferries (leaving from Ferry Wharf, Mazagaon) link the city with all neighbouring islands. Port Mumbai has also an important naval base (to the southeast of the city). In-port water transportation is via hovercrafts, catamarans and ferries. Services are regularly scheduled and provided via both government and private companies. Since December 2018, the ports Mumbai and Mormugao are linked via regularly scheduled cruiseferry line.

Port Mumbai serves major cruise ship companies, including P&O, Crystal, Costa, Holland America. To attract major international brands, in 2016, Mumbai Port Trust started offering cruise ship concessions, including cancellation of ousting charges (when the port had to move berthed cargo vessel) and a berth / docking certainty. Before 2016, cargo vessels were given preference over cruise liners, and the ship's operator had to book berthing 6 months in advance.

Until 2008, Port Mumbai had numerous cruise ship calls annually, but its high taxes forced most shipowners / operators to shift to Singapore. For season 2014-2015, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 37 ship calls (at Ballard Pier). During season 2015-2016 were handled 59 ship calls. Of those, 44 were visiting Mumbai as call port, the other 15 ‘were roundtrips. For season 2016-2017, the cruise port handled 55 ship calls with ~60,000 passengers.

On February 17, 2018, India's Prime Minister inaugurated Fourth Container Terminal (FCT), which is managed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. The new containership terminal nearly doubled the port's TEU capacity. After completion of the construction project's Phase 2 (in 2022), the port's annual capacity will be 5 times bigger (100 lakh containers annually). FCT is managed under a 30-year concession deal. Construction works started in October 2015.

The new terminal has India's deepest berths allowing docking of the world's largest boxships. The facility has total quay length of 1 km. Its gantry cranes reach 22 rows wide or greater. The terminal's handling capacity is 3 boxships simultaneously. The new terminal is linked to a dedicated railroad freight corridor with capacity ~350 TEU-containers per rake. Its rail facilities are the country's largest, with capacity to handle 1,5 km (1 mi) long container trains. There is also a storage facility for 1600 reefers (refrigerated containers) used for the shipping of agricultural and horticulture produce.

In 2018, APM Terminals Mumbai (2006-commissioned, aka "Gateway Terminals India"/GTI) became India's first container terminal to handle over 2 million TEUs in a calendar year. In 2019, APM Mumbai again reported 2+ million handled TEUs. GTI is a joint venture between APM Terminals and CONCOR/Container Corporation of India. The facility has total berth length 712 m (2336 ft), yard area 128 acres (52 hectares), modern equipment (10x quay cranes, 40x RTGs/rubber-tired gantry cranes, 3x RMGs/rail-mounted cranes).

In the period November 2019 through February 2020, in Mumbay was homeported the operated by Costa Cruises (shipowner Carnival Corporation) ship Costa Victoria. In season 2019-2020, the liner had scheduled a total of 259 port calls (booked berthings) in Mumbai Port (compared to only 40 in season 2015-2016).

Among India's 5 main cruise ports (Chennai, Goa, Cochin, Mangalore, Mumbai) that receive foreign passenger ships, Mumbai receives the biggest number of port calls. To handle the growing traffic, the old passenger terminal building was replaced by a new cruise terminal that is 10 times bigger than the old one.

On May 18, 2021, SPACEVPL (SP Armada Clean Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd) signed with Mumbai Port Trust a 30-year license agreement to operate and maintain (till 2051) an FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification Unit) in Mumbai Harbour.

• SPACEVPL's shareholders are Shapoorji Pallonji Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd (51%) and Bumi Armada Netherlands BV (49%, subsidiary of Bumi Armada Berhad Malaysia).
• SPACEVPL's FSRU is the 6th commissioned LNG terminal on India's west coast (together with Gujarat's Dahej and Hazira, and Kerala's Kochi) and the 3rd in Maharashtra (together with Dabhol and Jaigarh).

In February 2022, APM Terminals Mumbai announce an investment og USD 115 million in port infrastructure developments to increase the capacity by ~10% (up to 2,18 million TEUs). The project included purchasing 6x StS cranes (Ship-to-Shore) and 3x RMG cranes (Rail-Mounted Gantry).

Mumbai cruise terminal

Mumbai tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Gateway of India: the most popular monument in Mumbai. The Gateway of India dates from 1924 and commemorates the King George V and Queen Mary visit. The monument is a British Raj era symbol. Located in walking distance from Mumbai cruise terminal, opposite of the Tower Hotel and Taj Palace.
• Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat: discover the city inside with the most popular laundry at open air. It is located next to railway station Mahalaxmi.
• Haji Ali: dates from 1431 and is both tomb and a mosque. Located in the central area of the city.
• Bollywood: Mumbai is the home of Bollywood. The film center is located in the western suburbs, in Goregaon.
• Kala Ghoda Art Precinct: the Black horse statue indicates the cultural center of Mumbai. The area includes the best museums and art galleries of the city. Interesting event in February is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Located in the south part of the city, between Colaba and the Fort.
• Heritage Buildings: visit some of the most captivating architectural marvels like Prince of Wales Museum, the Bombay High Court, Victoria Terminus railway station and the Horniman Circle buildings. There is an open deck bus tour possibility.