Kingdom and Spain. The port also served passenger traffic to Singapore, but was suspended due to a fire accident. The modern day port has a commercial port complex and a dockyard that are protected by a river mouth sand bar facing the port. The port handles only limited amount of edible oil imports. The Nagapattinam lighthouse is the first conventional lighthouse tower built inside the port premises by the British in 1869. The port and the lighthouse are maintained by the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board under the Government of India. The port has been planned to have a green field, all weather and enhancing capacity to handle 10 lakh tonnes of cargo every year, but the expansion has been opposed by fishing community. The central government plan to convert the port into an economic zone under Sagar Mala project is also opposed by the fishing community fearing restrictions. Notes References Ports and harbours of Tamil Nadu Nagapattinam district