Kerala Maritime Board

What Kerala Maritime Board does

Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) is a statutory body of the Government of Kerala constituted under the Kerala Maritime Board Act 2017 and operational since 2 May 2019, replacing the earlier Directorate of Ports. KMB administers 17 notified non-major ports across Kerala's 590-kilometer coastline, including Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kollam, Beypore, Azhikkal, Kozhikode, Neendakara, and Alappuzha, while the major port at Cochin remains under separate central administration. The Board consolidates assets and liabilities previously held by the Port Directorate, Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation (KSMDCL), and Kerala Maritime Services (KMS), and exercises authority under the Inland Vessels Act 2021 through six designated Ports of Registry covering 3,221+ registered inland vessels.

KMB's service portfolio spans port operations and administration, crew change facilitation at Vizhinjam (located 10 nautical miles from the world's busiest east-west shipping lane), coastal shipping incentive administration, dredging operations (both mechanical and manual), inland vessel registration and survey certification, and port land and building licensing. Technology infrastructure includes the Kerala Nouka - Inland Vessel E-Portal (IV Connect) for vessel registration, an Online Dredging Portal with unified login and payment processing, and a KMB GIS Portal for geospatial port data management. The Board wholly owns Kerala Maritime Institute (KMI), which delivers DG-approved maritime education and training at Neendakara and Kodungallur campuses.

Revenue is generated through port dues, outer anchorage fees, channel fees, vehicle entry charges, and tug hire charges at Vizhinjam and other ports; licensing of port land, buildings, and godowns to private parties under the Kerala Port Manual; sand sales from manual dredging operations; coastal shipping incentive administration (subsidies at 50% of road transport cost); and inland vessel registration, survey, docking, and crew certification fees. KMB serves international shipping companies requiring crew change services, private maritime businesses and PPP investors for port development, inland vessel operators requiring statutory compliance, and coastal shipping operators receiving government incentives. Recent strategic direction emphasizes PPP-based port development, EXIM cargo expansion at Vizhinjam, maritime education ventures, and international cruise connectivity to the Middle East/GCC.

Name

Kerala Maritime Board

Legal name

Kerala Maritime Board

Website

https://kmb.kerala.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kerala Maritime Board is a Government of Kerala statutory body administering 17 non-major ports across the state's 590km coastline, delivering crew change, coastal shipping, dredging, inland vessel regulation, and port land licensing services to international shipping companies and maritime businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Administration and Maritime Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIALAF

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

SECONDARYTLAHAJAB

Vessel Husbandry & Crew Services (Crew Change, Meet & Assist, Transport, Shore Passes)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Ship Agency, Husbandry & Port Call Services

SECONDARYTLAHAJAA

Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Ship Agency, Husbandry & Port Call Services

SECONDARYIMAFAJAF

Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Marine & Coastal Construction (Ports, Harbors, Dredging)

Keywords

• Port administration services
• Maritime regulatory services
• Coastal shipping operations
• Inland vessel registration
• Crew change services

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Port Operations Revenue: Revenue generated from port operations including port dues, outer anchorage fees, channel fees, vehicle entry charges, and tug hire charges. Crew change operations at Vizhinjam Port generate revenue through multiple fee streams.
2. Port Land and Building Licensing: Port land, buildings, and godowns are leased to private parties on a license basis as a means of revenue generation. Licensing is done in accordance with laid-down rules and the Kerala Port Manual.
3. Coastal Shipping Incentive Administration: KMB administers government-approved operational incentives at 50% of road transportation cost to coastal shipping operators at Kollam, Beypore, and Azhikkal ports, extended at 10% above road transportation cost per NATPAC study report.
4. Sand Sale from Manual Dredging: Sand extracted from manual dredging is sold through the Ports Department/Kerala Maritime Board website. Proceeds are shared with local self-government bodies, the Department of Geology, and labor wages, with the remainder as KMB revenue.
5. Inland Vessel Registration and Survey: Revenue from issuing licenses, survey certificates, docking certificates, and crew certificates for inland vessels operating in Kerala's waterways, with six ports of registry.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kerala Maritime Board administers, controls, and manages 17 non-major ports along Kerala's 590 km coastline under the Kerala Maritime Board Act 2017. Its core services include crew change operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport, inland vessel registration and survey through six ports of registry, coastal shipping incentive administration, port land and building licensing, dredging operations, and maritime education through its subsidiary Kerala Maritime Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crew Change Operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport International crew change facilitation services at Vizhinjam International Seaport, located 10 nautical miles from the busiest east-west shipping lane. Services include port dues, outer anchorage fees, channel fees, vehicle entry charges, and tug hire charges for vessels undertaking crew rotation. Has handled 735+ crew changes with 6,389 crew sign-ons and 6,072 sign-offs.
• Inland Vessel Registration and Survey (Kerala Nouka Portal) Online portal for registration of inland vessels and survey processes under the Inland Vessels Act 2021. Provides survey certificates, docking certificates, and crew certifications through six Ports of Registry (Vizhinjam, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kodungallur, Beypore, Azheekal). Over 3,221+ inland vessels registered.
• Coastal Shipping Incentive Administration Administration of government-approved operational incentives to coastal shipping operators at Kollam, Beypore, and Azhikkal ports, encouraging water-based cargo transportation as an alternative to road transport.
• Port Land and Building Licensing Licensing of port land, buildings, and godowns to private parties under the Kerala Port Manual, managed through a Land Management Unit that conducts property surveys and boundary stone placement.
• Dredging Operations and Sand Sales Dredging services at Kerala ports covering both mechanical and manual dredging operations. Sand extracted from manual dredging is sold with proceeds shared among local self-government bodies, the Department of Geology, labor wages, and KMB revenue. Includes Online Dredging Portal for scheduling and payments.
• Kerala Maritime Education and Edutainment Hub - First PPP Project First PPP-based maritime education and edutainment hub at Neendakara, Kollam, delivered under public-private partnership framework. Operated through Kerala Maritime Institute (KMI) infrastructure with private sector collaboration.
• Vizhinjam EXIM Cargo Operations Full-fledged Export-Import cargo handling operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport, enabling Kerala's participation in global trade through port-led development under the state's 100-Day Action Plan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 735+ crew changes completed at Vizhinjam Port since July 2020, with 6,389 crew sign-ons and 6,072 crew sign-offs, generating Rs. 9.43 Crores in revenue
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MOPSW), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2024The EOI for Passenger Ships and Cruises connecting Kerala to the Middle East/GCC was issued with the concurrence of MOPSW. The ministry provides regulatory oversight and policy framework for maritime operations including ISPS certifications, ICP status, and immigration clearances.
• Kerala Government (Department of Ports)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKerala Maritime Board was constituted under the Kerala Maritime Board Act 2017, enacted by the Government of Kerala in November 2017, with the appointed day notified on 02-05-2019 for the transfer of assets and liabilities of the Port Directorate, KSMDCL, and KMS to KMB. The board operates under the Department of Ports, Government of Kerala.
• Directorate General of Maritime Administration (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DG(MAPS) issued a circular simplifying immigration procedures for seafarers, enabling crew change operations to resume at Vizhinjam International Seaport. KMB coordinates with this central government body for maritime administration and regulatory approvals including ISPS certifications.
• Kerala State Maritime Development Corporation (KSMDCL) and Kerala Maritime Services Ltd (KMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssets and liabilities of KSMDCL and KMS were transferred to Kerala Maritime Board upon commencement of the KMB Act 2017 on 02-05-2019, consolidating port administration under a single statutory body.
• Private Port Operators and PPP InvestorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMB is actively pursuing PPP-based development of ports including Kollam and Beypore ports, with Kerala Cabinet approving PPP models. Development projects include waterfront recreation zones, coastal assets, maritime education hubs (Neendakara), laklfront leisure hubs, and marine parks.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cochin Port Authority: Central government-administered major port authority in Kerala. Directly comparable as a port authority operating in the same state, handling EXIM cargo, crew and vessel traffic alongside KMB's 17 non-major ports.
• Karnataka Maritime Board: State-level statutory body administering non-major ports in Karnataka. Functionally identical to KMB in mandate — managing coastal ports, vessel registration and inland waterway regulation — making it the closest structural peer.
• Maharashtra Maritime Board: State maritime board administering non-major ports along Maharashtra's coastline. Comparable in governance structure, port administration scope, vessel regulation and PPP-based development approach.
• Gujarat Maritime Board: Gujarat's state maritime board managing non-major ports. Comparable as a state-level port authority with a larger coastal footprint, inland vessel regulation and active PPP/private port development track record.

Broad incumbents

• Chennai Port Authority: Major port authority on India's east coast handling container, bulk and cruise traffic. Comparable as an Indian port authority with broader cargo, ISPS-certified berths and a similar governance model under the Major Port Authorities Act.
• Mumbai Port Authority: India's largest major port authority by historical throughput. Comparable as a government-administered port authority operating cruise terminals, cargo berths and crew-related maritime services.
• Visakhapatnam Port Authority: Major port authority on India's east coast with deep-water berths and iron ore/cargo focus. Comparable as a public port authority managing multiple berths, ISPS compliance and inland vessel operations.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority: India's largest container port under central administration. Comparable as a major public port authority with container terminals, EXIM operations and ISPS-certified facilities relevant to KMB's Vizhinjam expansion.
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone: Largest private port operator in India operating major and non-major terminals. Comparable as a counterpart for PPP/private investment benchmarking at KMB ports and as a competitor for cargo traffic.

Others

• Indian Ports Association: Apex advisory body coordinating major and non-major ports in India. Relevant as a peer-level ecosystem participant that KMB coordinates with for policy, training (LBSNAA/IPA), and harmonisation of port standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KeralaBoard
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@keralamaritimeboard6130
• Facebookfacebook.com/kerala.maritimeboard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritime-board-kerala
• Instagraminstagram.com/keralamaritimeboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kerala Maritime Board