What visa or shore-pass do I need for Chennai (ex Madras)?

Seafarers calling at Chennai (ex Madras) on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. India may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.

Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Chennai (ex Madras)?

Yes — 1 seafarer welfare centre is listed for Chennai (ex Madras) in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.

Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Chennai (ex Madras)?

Yes — 6 helplines are listed for India in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.

What's the nearest hospital to Chennai (ex Madras)?

Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA), about 16 km away — useful for medevac planning.

Is Chennai (ex Madras) a recognised crew-change port?

Yes — Chennai (ex Madras) is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

Chennai (ex Madras)

UN/LOCODE INMAA · India · Asia-Pacific · TN

Crew change hub

Crew guide

Shore leave

Chennai (Madras), India's principal east-coast port, handles container, bulk, and automobile export traffic. Shore leave follows the standard Indian procedure. Welfare provision via Stella Maris Chennai + Apostleship of the Sea.

Walking distance + transit

Chennai Port is 5-15 minutes from central Chennai (T Nagar, Anna Nagar). Compact and easy to access. Chennai International Airport is 60 minutes south.

Essentials

ATMs: SBI, HDFC, ICICI everywhere
Money changers: Express Avenue Mall, Phoenix Marketcity have RBI-licensed dealers
Hospital: Apollo Hospitals Chennai (major private chain HQ), Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre
Prayer rooms: Chennai Mosque (Triplicane) is the central Islamic landmark
Halal food: Royapettah, Triplicane areas
Supermarket: Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, More
SIM card: same Indian options as Mumbai

Seafarer tips

Do: try Chennai's South Indian cuisine — distinctly different from north Indian. Don't: rely on English everywhere — Tamil is the working language outside hotels. Watch for: Chennai's hot-humid climate is intense year-round; budget extra rest time.

Last verified: 2026-06-29. Confirm with ship's agent before going ashore — local policy changes.

Chennai (ex Madras) (UN/LOCODE INMAA) is a designated seaport with an adjacent airport in India (TN) in the tropical northern Indian Ocean region. The port operates on Asia/Kolkata, uses the Indian Rupee (INR), runs shore power at 230V/50Hz (Type C/D/M). Nearest major airport for crew changes is Chennai International Airport (MAA), 16 km from the port.

Reference

Coordinates: 13.0833, 80.2833
Time zone: Asia/KolkataUTC +05:30no DST
Local currency: INR— Indian Rupee
Languages: hi, en
Nearest airport: MAAChennai International Airport~16 km
Electricity: 230 V50 Hzplugs C, D, M(country default — verify at berth)
Climate: AwTropical savanna (dry winter)
Country-coastal Köppen zone (most ports cluster on the coast). For port-coordinate resolution use Kottek 2006 0.5° grid.
Function codes: 12345---
seaport · rail terminal · road terminal · airport · postal exchange

Operational details

Compiled from public port-authority and P&I-club directories. Always verify current contacts via your agent before arrival.

Pilotage / VTS

Chennai VTMS

VHF: Ch 12 / 16
Phone: +91 44 2536 2201
Web: www.chennaiport.gov.in

P&I correspondents

· Bose & Mitra Chennai
· Stephenson Harwood Chennai

Port agents

· JM Baxi Chennai
· Bharati Shipping Chennai
· Inchcape India

ISPS security level (normal): 1

NE monsoon Oct-Dec restricts cargo work; 21m draft limit at outer anchorage.

Helplines for seafarers in India

Welfare, abandonment, wages, medical, mental health, harassment — 24/7 lines where available. See full helplines directory.

NUSI (India)
Asia-Pacific · Office hours · en, hi
📞 +91 22 2261 2822 [email protected]www.nusi.in
MUI (India)
Asia-Pacific · Office hours · en, hi
📞 +91 22 2413 2500 [email protected]www.muindia.org
Sailors' Society India
South Asia · Mon–Sat · en, hi, ml, ta
📞 +91 22 2261 3361 [email protected]www.sailors-society.org
National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI)
South Asia · Office hours · en, hi
📞 +91 22 2261 3361 [email protected]www.nusi.in
NUSI (National Union of Seafarers of India)
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 9:30-18 IST · hi, en
📞 +91 22 6798 3636 [email protected]www.nusi.in
MUI (Maritime Union of India)
Asia-Pacific · Mon-Fri 10-18 IST · hi, en
📞 +91 22 2202 8898 [email protected]www.mui.in

Other ports in India

All ports in India →

Survival information

Practical information for crew arriving here. Verified where possible — see sources. Spot a mistake or missing detail? Tell us.

Emergency contacts

India National Emergency Number: 112 · 24/7
Chennai Port Trust duty officer: +91 44 2536 2202 · 24/7

Hospitals / clinics

Apollo Hospitals Chennai
21 Greams Lane, Off Greams Road, Chennai
+91 44 2829 3333

Shore leave

India generally permits shore leave under a port shore-pass arranged by the vessel's agent. Long-term stays or onward travel require an Indian visa (e-visa available for most nationalities at indianvisaonline.gov.in). Reference: mea.gov.in.

Plan it: /tools/shore-leave-port-card

Transport

Nearest major airport: Chennai International Airport (MAA (~16 km)). Vessel agent normally arranges taxi or seafarer-centre shuttle to/from the airport at sign-on / sign-off. Confirm transport with the agent at least 24 hours before disembarkation.

SIM & Wi-Fi

Major operators: Jio, Airtel, Vi (Vodafone Idea). Tourist SIM requires passport + photo + local address. Buying at airport (BOM/MAA/COK/DEL) is fastest. Free Wi-Fi at Seafarers Mission Mumbai + Mariner Club Mumbai (12 Mohammed Bhai Building, Colaba).

Consular contacts

PH Philippine Embassy New Delhi (serves Chennai)

Related rights: shore leave · medical care · abandonment · unpaid wages.

Port-state-control region: indian ocean MoU · how to file a PSC complaint.

Chennai (ex Madras): seafarer FAQ

Is shore leave allowed at Chennai (ex Madras)?: Shore leave at Chennai (ex Madras): India generally permits shore leave under a port shore-pass arranged by the vessel's agent. Long-term stays or onward travel require an Indian visa (e-visa available for most nationalities at indianvisaonline.gov.in). Reference: mea.gov.in.. Shore leave policy is set by the port authority, the flag administration, and the visa regime of India. Confirm with the agent before stepping ashore.
What visa or shore-pass do I need for Chennai (ex Madras)?: Seafarers calling at Chennai (ex Madras) on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. India may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.
Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Chennai (ex Madras)?: Yes — 1 seafarer welfare centre is listed for Chennai (ex Madras) in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.
Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Chennai (ex Madras)?: Yes — 6 helplines are listed for India in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.
What's the nearest hospital to Chennai (ex Madras)?: Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA), about 16 km away — useful for medevac planning.
Is Chennai (ex Madras) a recognised crew-change port?: Yes — Chennai (ex Madras) is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

For the arriving crew

Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.

Sources & verification (13)

country_iso3 · ISO 3166-1 (IN)retrieved 2026-05-05
country_name · ISO 3166-1 (IN)retrieved 2026-05-05
currency_code · ISO 4217:2015 (INR)retrieved 2026-05-05
currency_name · ISO 4217:2015 (INR)retrieved 2026-05-05
languages · CIA World Factbook (public domain), national-language listing (IN)retrieved 2026-05-05
timezone_iana · IANA tz database (Asia/Kolkata)retrieved 2026-05-05
timezone_utc_offset · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Kolkata)retrieved 2026-05-05
timezone_dst · ECMA-402 Intl.DateTimeFormat (computed) (Asia/Kolkata)retrieved 2026-05-05
electricity · IEC TR 60083 plug-and-socket standard list (IN)retrieved 2026-05-05
function_codes_expanded · UNECE Rec. 16 — UN/LOCODE function-code mask (12345---)retrieved 2026-05-05
nearest_major_airport · OurAirports (CC0) — davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data (MAA)retrieved 2026-05-07
wikidata_qid · Wikidata SPARQL (P1937 UN/LOCODE join) (Q3524002)retrieved 2026-05-07
climate_classification · Kottek et al. 2006 / Beck et al. 2018 — country-coastal Köppen zone (IN)retrieved 2026-05-07

Last verified 5 months ago

High confidence

Editorial confidence: how we grade. Data sources and methodology: /sources.