The Arabian Sea ( Arabic : بَحرُ ٱلْعَرَبْ , romanized : baḥr al-ʿarab ) is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean , bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula , Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel , on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran , on the north by Pakistan , on the east by India , and on the southeast by the Laccadive Sea and the Maldives , on the southwest by Somalia . Its total area is 3,862,000 km (1,491,000 sq mi) and its maximum depth is 5,395 meters (17,700 feet). The Gulf of Aden in the west connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb , and the Gulf of Oman is in the northwest, connecting it to the Persian Gulf .
52-557: Mahim Bay is a picturesque bay situated in the Arabian Sea , along the western coast of India. It is located in the southern part of Mumbai, the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra . The bay was named after the islands of Mahim and Salsette were merged in the early 19th century. The Mithi River drains into Mahim Creek which drains into the Bay, and forms the border between
104-555: A 50-year concession to operate a container terminal at berths 6-10 on the East Wharf of Karachi Port. KGTL is a joint venture firm of AD Ports Group as a major investor and Kaheel Terminals. AD Ports Group will invest $ 220 million in the upgradation and expansion of the container terminal. Karachi Gateway Terminal plans on achieving a total handling capacity of 1 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent) with investments in machinery and infrastructure. The current draft depth of berths
156-551: A dry dock at Manora for quick boat repairs. Repairs for larger ships are offered at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW). The shipyard carries out shipbuilding and repair for both commercial and military customers on a 29-hectare (70 acres) site at the West Wharf. The facilities include a large shipbuilding hall, three shipbuilding berths, two dry-docks and three foundries. The flow of cargo to and from
208-501: A publication now in the public domain : Chisholm, Hugh , ed. (1911). " Arabian Sea ". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. Port of Karachi The Port of Karachi ( Urdu : کراچی بندرگاہ , Bandar gāh Karāchī ) is one of South Asia 's largest and busiest deep-water seaports , handling about 60% of the nation's cargo (25 million tons per annum) located in Karachi , Pakistan . It
260-512: A second fishing harbour has been built 18 kilometres away at Korangi . The transfer of some naval vessels to the new naval base at Ormara has brought about further reductions in congestion. Further deepening of the port has been planned by the Karachi Port Trust in order to enhance facilities. The channel is being dredged initially to 13.5 metres deep to cater for 12-metre draught vessels at all tides. At Kiamari Groyne , located at
312-493: A strategic anchorage point for maritime trade and commerce during the colonial era when Mumbai was known as Bombay. The bay facilitated the transportation of goods and materials, contributing to the city's emergence as a major trading hub on the western coast of India. Mahim Bay is home to diverse marine life, including various species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. The bay's mangrove ecosystems provide vital habitats for numerous species of birds and other wildlife. Additionally,
364-431: Is 13 meters that KGTL plans to increase to up to 15 meters to cater to larger and deeper vessels. There are also plans to develop a turning basin in collaboration with Karachi Port Trust that would allow vessels of LOA (Length Over All) of about 350 meters. Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose (Private) Limited - KGTML , operates under a 25-year concession to operate a bulk and general cargo terminal at berths 11-17 on
416-611: Is a union territory and is governed by the Union Government of India . The islands form the smallest union territory of India with their total surface area being just 32 km (12 sq mi). Next to these islands are the Maldives islands. These islands are all part of the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands. Zalzala Koh was an island which was around for only a few years. After
468-725: Is a reference to the early existence of the port of Karachi in the " Umdah ", by the Arab navigator Sulaiman al Mahri (AD 1511), who mentions " Ras al Karazi " and " Ras Karashi " while describing a route along the coast from Pasni to Ras Karashi. Karachi is also mentioned in the sixteenth century Turkish treatise Mir'ât ül Memâlik by the Ottoman captain Seydi Ali Reis , who warns sailors about whirlpools and advises them to seek safety in " Kaurashi " harbour if they found themselves drifting dangerously. In 1728 heavy rains silted up
520-405: Is a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings . On 18 December, 2019, Hutchison Ports Pakistan welcomed CV COSCO BELGIUM, the largest container vessel to ever call at any port of Pakistan, with a length of over 366 meters and a capacity of 13,386 TEUs. In March 2024, The World Economic Forum (WEF) reported that Pakistan has almost tripled its mangrove forests over the last 30 years. The area around
572-569: Is about 3,862,000 km (1,491,130 sq mi). The maximum width of the sea is approximately 2,400 km (1,490 mi), and its maximum depth is 5,395 metres (17,700 ft). The biggest river flowing into the sea is the Indus River . The Arabian Sea has two important branches: the Gulf of Aden in the southwest, connecting with the Red Sea through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb ; and
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#1732781192177624-619: Is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the neighborhoods of Mahim and Bandra to the east. It extends from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in the north to the Mahim Causeway in the south. The bay encompasses an area of approximately 15 square kilometers and serves as a natural inlet along Mumbai's coastline. Throughout history, Mahim Bay has played a crucial role in the development and growth of Mumbai. It served as
676-622: Is located on the Karachi Harbour , between Kiamari Azra Langri, Manora , and Kakapir , and close to Karachi's main business district and several industrial areas. The geographic position of the port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz . It is also ideally located to offer gateway services to the maritime trade for the Central Asian Republics (CARs). The administration of
728-598: The Arabian Sea , so in 1839 they occupied Karachi and later the whole of the Sindh. The port served as a landing point for troops during the First Afghan War . A number of British companies opened offices and warehouses in Karachi and the population increased rapidly. By 1852, Karachi was an established city with a population of 14,000 and a prosperous overseas trade. The modern port began to take shape in 1854, when
780-750: The Horn of Africa and 380 km (240 mi) south of the Arabian Peninsula. Masirah and the five Khuriya Muriya Islands are islands off the southeastern coast of Oman. There are many major cities and towns in the coast of Arabian Sea. Some of the major cities are Mumbai , Muscat , Karachi , Aden , Salalah , Thiruvananthapuram , Kochi , Kozhikode , Alappuzha , Kollam , Mangalore , Bhavnagar , Jamnagar , Mogadishu , Gwadar , Abu Dhabi , Mundra , Dubai , Kannur , Panaji , Karwar , Udupi , Ratnagiri , Murdeshwar , Veraval , Colombo , Takamaka , and Dhiffushi . The Arabian Sea has one of
832-859: The Mumbai city ( Churchgate to Mahim ) and its Suburbs ( Bandra to Dahisar ). During the colonial era, the Portuguese built a watch tower called Castella de Aguada on the northern side. Later, the British built the Worli Fort to the south and Mahim Fort near the creek to defend the Seven Islands of Bombay against attacks by the Portuguese and the Marathas . The bay is an integral part of Mumbai's coastline and holds significant historical, geographical, and ecological importance. Mahim Bay
884-780: The Port of Karachi , Port Qasim , and the Gwadar Port in Pakistan, Chabahar Port in Iran and the Port of Salalah in Salalah , Oman . The largest islands in the Arabian Sea include Socotra ( Yemen ), Masirah Island (Oman), Lakshadweep (India) and Astola Island (Pakistan). The countries with coastlines on the Arabian Sea are Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Iran, India and the Maldives . The International Hydrographic Organization defines
936-821: The Suez Canal in 1869. Karachi was an important military base during the First World War (1914–18) because it was the first British Raj port of call for ships coming through the Suez Canal and was the gateway to Afghanistan and the Russian Empire. Karachi was again a military base and port for supplies to the Russian front during the Second World War (1939–1945). In 1947, the British left
988-717: The 15th century Portuguese explorer Pero de Covilhăo , reaches depths of 4,400 metres (14,436 ft) and separates the Indus Fan region from the Oman Abyssal Plain, which eventually leads to the Gulf of Oman . The southern limits are dominated by the Arabian Basin , a deep basin reaching depths over 4,200 metres (13,780 ft). The northern sections of the Carlsberg Ridge flank the southern edge of
1040-576: The 2013 earthquake in Pakistan, the mud island was formed. By 2016 the island had completely submerged. Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar in Balochi , or 'Island of the Seven Hills', is a small, uninhabited island in the northern tip of the Arabian Sea in Pakistan's territorial waters. Socotra, also spelled Soqotra , is the largest island, being part of a small archipelago of four islands. It lies some 240 km (150 mi) east of
1092-796: The Akhdar (Green) Sea, Bahre Fars (Persian Sea), the Ocean Sea, the Hindu sea, the Makran Sea, the sea of Oman; among them Zakariya al-Qazwini , Al-Masudi , Ibn Hawqal and Hafiz-i Abru . They wrote: "The green sea and Indian sea and Persian sea are all one sea and in this sea there are strange creatures." in Iran and Turkey people call it Oman sea. In the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , as well as in some ancient maps, Erythraean Sea refers to
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#17327811921771144-596: The Arabian Basin, which include a 5,358 metres (17,579 ft) deep point off the northern limit of Calrsberg Ridge. Prominent sea mounts off the Indian west coast include Raman Seamount named after C. V. Raman , Panikkar Seamount, named after N. K. Panikkar , and the Wadia Guyot , named after D. N. Wadia . Sind'Bad Seamount, named after the fictional explorer Sinbad the Sailor , Zheng He Seamount, and
1196-472: The Arabian Basin. The deepest parts of the Arabian Sea are in the Alula-Fartak Trough on the western edge of the Arabian Sea off the Gulf of Aden. The trough, reaching depths over 5,360 metres (17,585 ft), traverses the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The deepest known point is in the Arabian Sea limits at a depth of 5,395 metres (17,700 ft). Other significant deep points are part of
1248-518: The Arabian Sea is warming monotonously; it possibly is due to global warming. The intensification and northward shift of the summer monsoon low-level jet over the Arabian Sea from 1979 to 2015, led to increased upper ocean heat content due to enhanced downwelling and reduced southward heat transport. Regional endonyms for the Arabian sea in languages of the coastal regions surrounding it. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
1300-521: The Arabian Sea, with the most important ones being Lakshadweep Islands (India), Socotra (Yemen), Masirah (Oman) and Astola Island (Pakistan). The Lakshadweep Islands (formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Aminidivi Islands) is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea region of Arabian Sea, 200 to 440 km (120 to 270 mi) off the southwestern coast of India. The archipelago
1352-430: The East Wharf o Karachi Port. KGTML is a joint venture of AD Ports Group as a major shareholder and Kaheel Terminals, UAE. KGTML is scheduled to receive an investment of $ 100 million from AD Ports Group of which $ 75 million is expected to be made within the first two years of the concession. The investment will raise operational efficiency to 75% enabling the terminal to handle up to 14 million tons per annum compared to
1404-641: The Gulf of Oman to the northwest, connecting with the Persian Gulf. There are also the gulfs of Khambhat and Kutch on the Indian Coast . The Arabian Sea has been crossed by many important marine trade routes since the 3rd or 2nd millennium BCE. Major seaports include Kandla Port , Mundra Port , Pipavav Port , Dahej Port , Hazira Port , Mumbai Port , Nhava Sheva Port (Navi Mumbai) , Mormugão Port (Goa) , New Mangalore Port and Kochi Port in India,
1456-531: The Indian subcontinent, which increase winds blowing towards India, bringing up nutrients and reducing oxygen in the Arabian Sea's waters. In winter, phytoplankton suited to low-oxygen conditions turn the OMZ bright green. The wildlife of the Arabian sea is diverse, and entirely unique because of the geographic distribution. Recent studies by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology confirmed that
1508-654: The Mount Error Guyot are some notable sea mounts in western Arabian Sea. Border and basin countries: The Arabian Sea historically and geographically has been referred to with different names by Arabian and European geographers and travelers, including Erythraean Sea , Indian Sea, Oman sea , Erythraean, Persian Sea in para No 34-35 of the Voyage. In Indian folklore, it is referred to as Darya, Sindhu Sagar, Arab Samudra. Arab geographers, sailors and nomads used to call this sea by different names, including
1560-537: The West Wharf, the lighterage berths and the ship-repair berths were constructed between 1927 and 1944. By 1899 Karachi was the largest wheat and cotton exporting port in South Asia. The period between 1856 and 1872 saw a marked increase in trade, especially during the American Civil War when cotton from Sindh replaced American cotton as a raw material in the British textile industry and the opening of
1612-577: The bay's ecological health. Mahim Bay offers a scenic backdrop for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and leisurely strolls along the coastline. The bay's promenades and waterfront areas attract locals and tourists alike, providing opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Additionally, Mahim Bay holds cultural significance, with landmarks such as the Mahim Fort and Bandra-Worli Sea Link adding to its historical and architectural heritage. Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea's surface area
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1664-523: The berths is currently 11.3 metres. Of these two of the wharves extend in opposite directions along the upper harbour – the East Wharf northeast from Keamari Island and the West Wharf southwest from Saddar town. The two wharves each include a container terminal. The containerized cargo operations started in 1973 at the Karachi Port. Karachi Port has three liquid cargo-handling berths (oil piers) to handle both POL and non POL products. There port also has
1716-458: The coast of the sea. It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar . The Gwadar Port of Pakistan is a warm-water, deep-sea port situated at Gwadar in Balochistan at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, about 460 km west of Karachi and approximately 75 km (47 mi) east of Pakistan's border with Iran. The port is located on
1768-441: The current cargo handling of 8 million tons. This transactional volume is expected to be achieved within the first five years. Since 2016, South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) operates the largest deep sea port of the country. Hutchison Ports Pakistan invested $ 600m in the first phase of SAPT which included two berths having length of 800 meters. Hutchison Ports Pakistan is a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings , which in turn
1820-498: The eastern bay of a natural hammerhead-shaped peninsula jutting out into the Arabian Sea from the coastline. Port of Salalah in Salalah, Oman is also a major port in the area. The International Task Force often uses the port as a base. There is a significant number of warships of all nations coming in and out of the port, which makes it a very safe bubble. The port handled just under 3.5m teu in 2009. There are several islands in
1872-626: The gate facing the Lyari River was called " Mithadar " ( sweet gate ). From 1729 to 1783 the strategic location of Kolachi saw the town change hands several times between the Khans of Kalat and the rulers of Sind. In 1783, after two prolonged sieges the town fell to the Talpur Mirs of Sind, who constructed Manora Fort mounted with cannons on Manora island at the harbour entrance. The British were concerned about Russian expansion towards
1924-413: The harbour at Kharak , forcing merchants to relocate to the area of modern Karachi. In 1729, they built a new fortified town called Kolachi (also known as Kalachi-jo-Kun and Kolachi-jo-Goth ) on high ground north of Karachi bay, surrounded by a 16-foot (5 m) high mud and timber-reinforced wall with gun-mounted turrets and two gates. The gate facing the sea was called " Kharadar " ( salt gate ), and
1976-453: The harbour includes several mangrove forests which are constantly under threat from human activities. To the east of the port lies Chinna Creek , which covers about 6 km² and is dotted with mangrove islands. To the southwest of the port is another much larger mangrove forest in the bay formed by several islands and Manora breakwater; the river Layari flows into this bay, bringing waste from upstream suburbs. The beach immediately east of
2028-509: The harbour was the scene of a significant oil spillage when the Greek-registered Tasman Spirit ran aground on 28 July 2003. The environmental impact included large numbers of dead fish and turtles and damage to a key mangrove forest, as well as dozens of people suffering nausea. The Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB) is responsible for labour relations between employees and the Karachi Port Trust. In October 2006,
2080-533: The limits of the Arabian Sea as follows: The International Indian Ocean Expedition in 1959 was among the first to perform hydrographic surveys of the Arabian Sea. Significant bathymetric surveys were also conducted by the Soviet Union during the 1960s. Significant features in the northern Arabian Sea include the Indus Fan , the second largest fan system in the world. The De Covilhao Trough, named after
2132-615: The main navigation channel was dredged and a mole or causeway was constructed to link the main harbour with the rest of the city. This was followed by construction of Manora breakwater, Keamari Groyne, the Napier Mole Bridge and the Native Jetty Bridge . The construction of the wharves started in 1882, and by 1914 the East Wharf and the Napier Mole Boat Wharf were complete while 1927 and 1944,
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2184-556: The mangroves serve as natural buffers, protecting the coastline from erosion and mitigating the impacts of storms and tidal surges. Despite its ecological significance, Mahim Bay faces various environmental challenges, including pollution and habitat degradation. Urbanization, industrial activities, and untreated sewage discharge have led to water pollution and degradation of the bay's ecosystem. Efforts are underway to address these issues through conservation initiatives, pollution control measures, and restoration projects aimed at revitalizing
2236-533: The outer tip of the harbour, dredging will be to 16.5 metres to enable vessels up to 300 metres long to dock. Other projects to expand the port include: On 9 November 2007, the Karachi Port Trust signed a US$ 1 billion agreement with Hutchison Port Holdings to construct a new terminal called the "Pakistan Deep Water Container Port ", which would begin operations by 2010, and would have ten berths capable of handling Super Post Panamax container ships. Karachi Gateway Terminal (Private) Limited - KGTL, operates under
2288-555: The port is carried out by the Karachi Port Trust , which was established in 1857. The history of the port is intertwined with that of the city of Karachi. Several ancient ports have been attributed in the area including "Krokola", "Morontobara" (Woman's Harbour) (mentioned by Nearchus ), Barbarikon (the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , and Debal (a city captured by the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 CE). There
2340-486: The port is hampered by severe congestion in the harbour with several other maritime facilities located close to the port. Adjacent to the West Wharf is the Karachi Fishing Harbour, which is administered separately from the port and is the base for a fleet of several thousand fishing vessels. The West Wharf also hosts a ship repair facility and shipyard and a naval dockyard at the tip of the wharf, while to
2392-695: The region and India and Pakistan were formed. In 1974, a bunch of terrorists seized a Greek ship and held the Greek crew for a number of hours. They wanted the Greek government to meet their demands. After this, the hostages were released and the terrorists fled the country. Karachi Port comprises a deep natural harbour with an 11 kilometers long approach channel that provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 tonnes deadweight (DWT). Karachi Port has three wharves ; East Wharf with seventeen vessel berths , West Wharf with thirteen vessel berths, and South Wharf with four vessel berths. The maximum depth alongside
2444-603: The rough country in the southern Arabian Peninsula was significant, and the Egyptian Pharaohs built several shallow canals to service the trade, one more or less along the route of today's Suez Canal , and another from the Red Sea to the Nile River , both shallow works that were swallowed up by huge sand storms in antiquity. Later the kingdom of Axum arose in Ethiopia to rule a mercantile empire rooted in
2496-746: The sea around the rough inland terrain features to its north. These routes usually began in the Far East or down river from Madhya Pradesh , India with transshipment via historic Bharuch (Bharakuccha), traversed past the inhospitable coast of modern-day Iran, then split around Hadhramaut , Yemen into two streams north into the Gulf of Aden and thence into the Levant , or south into Alexandria via Red Sea ports such as Axum . Each major route involved transhipping to pack animal caravan , travel through desert country and risk of bandits and extortionate tolls by local potentates. This southern coastal route past
2548-639: The south of the port are the Karachi Naval Base and the Kiamari Boat Club . The Port of Karachi also faces competition from a new private terminal located 5 kilometres to the west. In recent years the federal government has attempted to alleviate the increased congestion by constructing a second port in Karachi thirty kilometres to the east at Port Qasim and a third major port at Gwadar , about 650 kilometres west of Karachi. The Karachi Fishing Harbour has been upgraded recently, and
2600-414: The trade with Europe via Alexandria. Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai is the largest port in the Arabian Sea, and the largest container port in India. Major Indian ports in the Arabian Sea are Mundra Port , Kandla Port , Nava Sheva , Kochi Port , Mumbai Port , Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram and Mormugão . The Port of Karachi , Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport lies on
2652-453: The whole area of the northwestern Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea has been an important marine trade route since the era of the coastal sailing vessels from possibly as early as the 3rd millennium BCE, certainly the late 2nd millennium BCE through the later days known as the Age of Sail . By the time of Julius Caesar , several well-established combined land-sea trade routes depended upon water transport through
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#17327811921772704-448: The world's three largest oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZ), or “dead zones,” along with the eastern tropical North Pacific and the eastern tropical South Pacific. OMZs have very low levels of oxygen , sometimes so low as to be undetectable by standard equipment. The Arabian Sea's OMZ has the lowest levels of oxygen in the world, especially in the Gulf of Oman. Causes of the OMZ may include untreated sewage as well as high temperatures on
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