1. Geographical: Availability of land for port expansion and development.
2. Geophysical: Possibility of deepening navigation channels, basins and harbor entrances so as to facilitate deep draft ships to drop anchor as close to the port berths as possible.
3. Environmental: Maximum admissible water and air pollution and maximum allowable probability of occurrence of calamities.
4. Financial: Availability of funds and cost of borrowings from banks and other financial institutions.
5. Social: Availability of skilled labor and scope for employment.
6. Limitation in the capacity of hinterland connection.
7. Competition between ports.