Chennai Port, formerly known as Madras Port, is the second largest container port of India, behind Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port also known as Nhava Sheva. The port is the largest one in the Bay of Bengal. It is the third-oldest port among the 12 major ports of India with official port operations beginning in 1881, although maritime trade started much earlier in 1639 on the undeveloped shore.

An established port of trade of British India since the 1600s, the port remains a primary reason for the economic growth of Tamilnadu especially for the manufacturing boom and has contributed greatly to the development of the city