INCHQ1 is the Indian customs port code (location code) for Chennai Sea Port. Importers and exporters file Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills against INCHQ1 on ICEGATE when clearing containerised sea freight that discharges at Chennai's container terminals. This page sets out the code facts, where INCHQ1 goes on each document, common filing errors, and how a Licensed CHA clears cargo at this station.
INCHQ1 is the Indian customs port code (location code) for Chennai Sea Port. Importers file Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills against INCHQ1 on ICEGATE when clearing containerised sea freight that discharges at Chennai's container terminals. INCHQ1 denotes the Chennai Customs House location, and it is the closest major seaport code to Bengaluru.
The table below summarises the verified facts for the INCHQ1 customs station code. Location codes are assigned and maintained by CBIC and used across the ICEGATE e-filing portal for all import and export documentation.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location code | INCHQ1 |
| Station name | Chennai Sea Port (Chennai Customs House) |
| Station type | Sea port (with adjacent CFS/ICD facilities) |
| City / State | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Customs zone | Zone Tamil Nadu — Chennai Customs commissionerate |
| Used on documents | Bill of Entry (imports), Shipping Bill (exports), Import General Manifest (IGM) |
| ICEGATE usage | Port of clearance / location code field in BoE and SB e-filing; links filed document to the vessel IGM |
| Governing authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
Chennai Sea Port (INCHQ1) clears containerised sea freight — FCL and LCL — that discharges at its container terminals, operated under concession agreements with the Chennai Port Trust. The port is a major gateway for cargo moving between India and Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Europe, and it is the closest major seaport to Bengaluru at roughly 350 km via NH-48.
Typical cargo cleared here includes industrial machinery and capital equipment, automotive components, chemicals, textiles, electronics, and project cargo. Importers served span Tamil Nadu industry and a large share of Karnataka-bound cargo that either clears at Chennai and trucks inland, or moves under customs bond to ICD Whitefield (INWFD6) for clearance closer to Bengaluru.
First-mile: the vessel berths at a Chennai container terminal and the shipping agent files the IGM against INCHQ1. Last-mile: after Out-of-Charge, FCL containers are trucked to Bengaluru (350 km, 24 to 36 hours), or moved by rail or road under bond to ICD Whitefield for inland clearance. LCL cargo is deconsolidated at an adjacent CFS before delivery. See our Chennai to Southeast Asia export lane page for the export-side routing.
INCHQ1 is entered in the port of clearance (location code) field of the Bill of Entry for imports and the Shipping Bill for exports on ICEGATE. The location code ties the filed document to the vessel Import General Manifest (IGM) filed by the shipping agent when the vessel berths at Chennai. The BoE cannot be assessed until the IGM is matched and the container is discharged.
Correcting a wrong port code after filing requires a customs amendment under section 149 of the Customs Act, 1962. The CHA files the modification on ICEGATE, the assessing officer at the Chennai Customs House approves it, and the entry is re-processed — typically adding 1 to 3 working days and potentially triggering a fresh Risk Management System (RMS) check. Selecting INCHQ1 correctly at the time of filing avoids this.
Pre-arrival clearance is available at INCHQ1. A Bill of Entry can be filed before the vessel arrives at Chennai (as of July 2026, per CBIC pre-arrival filing rules), so that assessment begins early. For RMS green-channel cargo, this reduces FCL clearance from 3 to 5 days to 1 to 2 days after discharge. Confirm your duty exposure first with our import duty calculator.
Sea Air Cargo Systems is a Licensed customs house agent (CHA Licence No. 11/1999, in operation since 1999) with filing capability at Chennai Port (INCHQ1) and at ICD Whitefield (INWFD6). One team covers both stations, so you do not need a different broker at the gateway port and another for inland delivery.
Our clearance workflow at INCHQ1: document check (invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, IEC, product-specific approvals) before the vessel arrives; HS classification and duty workup with your approval before filing; Bill of Entry filed on ICEGATE against INCHQ1, pre-arrival where eligible; terminal coordination to queue gate passes and trucking slots before discharge; examination coordination on-site; duty payment the moment assessment completes; and Out-of-Charge followed by inland haulage to Bengaluru or bonded movement to ICD Whitefield.
Because we hold the licence and operate at both the gateway and the inland station, we cover the full chain from vessel discharge to warehouse delivery under one file. A written quote is provided within 2 business hours of receiving your shipment details — no published rate card, no surprises after the fact.
Sea Air Cargo Systems files against all four customs stations that matter most to Bengaluru importers and exporters. Each links to its dedicated port-code page:
The Indian customs port code for Chennai Sea Port is INCHQ1. It is the location code used on ICEGATE when filing a Bill of Entry or Shipping Bill for containerised sea freight that discharges at Chennai's container terminals. INCHQ1 stands for the Chennai Customs House location.
Chennai Sea Port (INCHQ1) falls under Zone Tamil Nadu and is administered by the Chennai Customs commissionerate. Bills of Entry filed against INCHQ1 are assessed by customs officers at the Chennai Customs House, not by Bengaluru or Mumbai officers.
Changing the port code after a Bill of Entry is filed requires a customs amendment under section 149 of the Customs Act, 1962. The CHA files a modification request on ICEGATE and the assessing officer at the Chennai Customs House must approve it before assessment proceeds. This typically adds 1 to 3 working days and can trigger a fresh RMS check.
Chennai Port is approximately 350 km from Bengaluru via NH-48. Road haulage for an FCL container takes 24 to 36 hours. The distance makes Chennai the closest major seaport to Bengaluru, which is why much Karnataka-bound sea cargo either clears at INCHQ1 and trucks inland, or moves under bond to ICD Whitefield (INWFD6).
Clear at Chennai Port (INCHQ1) if your cargo is likely to face examination or you want immediate road dispatch to Bengaluru. Move the container under bond to ICD Whitefield (INWFD6) if you prefer to clear closer to your warehouse and avoid port congestion. Sea Air Cargo Systems is licensed CHA at both stations.
Yes. Sea Air Cargo Systems is a Licensed Customs House Agent (CHA Licence No. 11/1999) with filing capability at Chennai Port (INCHQ1). We handle pre-arrival Bill of Entry filing on ICEGATE, terminal coordination, examination, duty payment, inland haulage to Bengaluru, and door delivery. A written quote is provided within 2 business hours.
Government sources are provided for verification; Sea Air Cargo Systems is an independent Licensed CHA and is not affiliated with these bodies.
Tell us what is arriving at Chennai Port and we will confirm the correct location code, duty estimate, and clearance plan.