The main inward shipping channel of the port divides in to the Ernakulam and Mattancherry channels .The Ernakulum Channel is 4.90 Km long, with the width varying from 250 to 500 m and has a draft of 12.5 m up to the Oil Terminal and RGCT and a draft of 9.14 m up to the wharves and the north and south tanker berths.. The 1024 m long Ernakulam Wharf has six alongside berths, out of which three are utilized as a full-fledged container terminal, two for general cargo and a fertilizer berth. Besides there are three oil berths in the Ernakulum channel. The Mattancherry channel is 4.08 Km long, with the width varying from 180 to 250 m and a draft of 9.14 m except at Boat Train Pier where the draft is 10.0 m. On the Mattancherry Channel there are four alongside berths, for general cargo, one Boat Train Pier and two jetties for miscellaneous cargo. The details of the berths (including SPM) are shown below.