Dhamra Port has set a new national record, handling 1,32,365 Metric Tonnes (MT) of dry bulk cargo in a single 24-hour period, in a demonstration of the port’s operational efficiency.
The record was achieved during the unloading of the Cape-size vessel MV ASL OTSL2, which carried 1,65,283 MT of coking coal from Queensland, Australia, for Tata Steel.
Two national records in one berthing
During the vessel’s berthing at Berth-2, the port operations team set two national records: the highest-ever 24-hour discharge, surpassing the previous record of 1,27,867 MT set by MV Patragas while handling single-grade steam coal, and the fastest multi-grade turnaround, with the entire cargo discharged in 38 hours.
Complex cargo handling
The achievement is notable given the nature of the cargo. Unlike steam coal, coking coal is a non-free-flowing commodity, making rapid mechanical extraction more difficult. MV ASL OTSL2 carried two different grades of coking coal — Goonyella and PCI — and discharging both at record speed required precise operational execution, rigorous grade-wise segregation, and careful yard planning to prevent contamination for Tata Steel.
Port expansion plans
Devendra Thakar, CEO of DPCL, said the milestone reinforces Dhamra Port’s position as the preferred maritime gateway on India’s East Coast. “Backed by highly mechanised infrastructure and deep drafts, the port is rapidly expanding its capabilities and is on a firm trajectory to achieve a mammoth 100 MMT handling capacity by 2030,” he said.