Krishnapatnam or Kistnapatam is a port town in Muthukur mandal of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.

Krishnapatnam is a major port and market center. It is situated at a distance of 24 km from Nellore City in Nellore District, the southernmost coastal district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, 200 kilometer north of Chennai. It has handled 30 million tonne of cargo in its first 12 months of operations. 10 deep water berths are operational at the port now,(for coal, iron ore and general cargo) and 2 breakwaters. It will soon have additional 35 berths, with facilities to handle containers etc.

Krishnapatnam is one of the very few ports in the world which can handle giant ships with load capacities of 1,50,000 tonnes. It has became one of the deepest port of India with 18 meters of draft.

Depths—Limitations

There are four berths with maximum depths of 15m alongside. Two berths handle coal, one handles iron ore and one handles general cargo. The port plans on eventually expanding to 17 more berths in two phases.

Pilotage

Pilotage is compulsory. Pilots board vessels with drafts less than 10m at Pilot Boarding Station A, in position 14°14.5'N, 80°12.5'E. Pilots board vessels with a draft of 10m or greater at Pilot Boarding Station B, in position 14°14.9'N, 80°15.3'E.

Regulations

Vessels should report their ETA to Port Operations 7 days, 5 days, 48 hours, and 24 hours, in advance.

The ETA message should contain the following information:
1. Draft forward and aft.
2. ETA at the pilot boarding station.

Signals

Storm signals are shown; the Brief System is used.

Casuarina plantations line the coast up to 3 miles N of the mouth of the Upputeru River, then abruptly changes to sand hills for 5 miles and becomes low and sandy as far N as the Penner River, about 13 miles farther N.