Galathea Bay is a geographical feature and a concept representing a major strategic infrastructure project located on the southeastern corner of Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is the site for the proposed International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), also known as the Galathea Bay Port.
The concept originated as a core component of the Great Nicobar Island Development Project, which was conceived by NITI Aayog and approved by the Cabinet in 2021. The primary problem it aims to solve is India's reliance on foreign transshipment hubs like Colombo and Singapore, which currently handle about 75% of India's transshipped cargo. The project is intended to strengthen India's strategic presence in the Indian Ocean by leveraging the island's proximity to the Strait of Malacca.
The mechanism involves developing a deep-water port with a natural depth of over 20 meters. The ₹44,000 crore project is planned in four phases, with Phase 1 expected to be commissioned in 2028 with a capacity of 4 million TEUs, ultimately reaching 16 million TEUs by 2058. The port connects to the larger development plan, which includes a dual-use international airport, a 450 MVA gas and solar power plant, and a township. It is also aligned with the government's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The area has undergone significant recent changes: the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a critical nesting site for the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), was de-notified in January 2021 to facilitate the port's construction. In September 2024, the transshipment hub was officially notified as the 13th major port of India. The bay is adjacent to the Galathea National Park, which was gazetted in 1992 and forms part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.