Port Health Organization, Visakhapatnam came into existence in the year 1946 for making arrangements for Health Clearance and Quarantine Administration under the Indian Port Health Rules and the International Health Regulations and other such rules. Port Health Organization, Visakhapatnam is also looking after the Minor Anchorage Port at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh that is about 185 kilometers away from; Visakhapatnam for issue of Deratting Exemption Certificates to ships visiting Kakinada Anchorage.

The Port Health Organization, Visakhapatnam ha its own building in the main port area and services like Sanitary, Water, Electricity etc., are provided by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust for which necessary charges are paid.

Visakhapatnam port, which was opened to Ocean Traffic on October 1933, has risen to great heights. Successive Five-year plans brought in investment for the construction of additional berths. Now there are 24 berths spread in the east Quay, West Quay, Outer berths, General Cargo Berths, Fertilizer Berth, Oil Refinery Berth, Ore Berth. Hindustan Ship Yard Berths and Fishing Harbor Berths in the inner and outer ports besides the container Terminal, the Off-shore Tanker Terminal and a separate berth for handling LPG which has come up recently. Construction work of another satellite Port at Gangavaram (about 25 Kms away) is likely to start for handling steel cargo of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. There is also a proposal to shift the present Fishing Harbor to Rishikinda/Bhimili and modify the present harbor to shipping berths. Due to coming up of many Industrial units, the modification and development of the present Airport to handle export-import cargo and air passengers giving it an International Status too is in the card.