Kochi
UN/LOCODE INCOK · India · IMO-designated crew-change hub
Why this port is a crew-change hub
Kochi is one of 115 ports named in IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1636 as a designated crew-change hub. Ports made the list on the basis of accessible international airports, established agent networks, welfare-centre infrastructure, and — during the pandemic — visa-facilitation frameworks that allowed sign-on and sign-off crew to transit without lengthy quarantine. That combination continues to make these ports the practical corridors most seafarers move through today.
Airport and transit
Nearest major airport for crew changes is Cochin International Airport (COK), roughly 25 km from the port. Confirm the exact terminal handover point with the ship's agent — many hubs have multiple terminals with different immigration processes.
Shore leave and practical briefing
Kochi (Cochin), India's principal west-coast port south of Mumbai, handles container, bulk, and naval traffic. Home to Cochin Shipyard. Shore leave is granted under standard Indian procedure. Welfare provision via Stella Maris Cochin + Mission to Seafarers.