Bhubaneswar: Paradip Port in Odisha has achieved a major operational milestone with the successful berthing of its first-ever Capesize vessel at Western Dock-1.
The vessel, MV Mineral Kwangyang, arrived with a draft of 16.50 metres and was berthed at Western Dock-1, marking a significant step forward in the port’s deep-draft vessel handling capability.
The 292-metre-long and 45-metre-wide vessel was carrying 152,702 metric tonnes of coking coal.
Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit congratulated the teams of PPA and JPPL for the achievement. The milestone is expected to strengthen Paradip Port’s ability to handle larger vessels and support more efficient cargo movement.
Meanwhile, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the development as a historic milestone for Paradip Port.
Sonowal said the achievement reflects the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen India’s port infrastructure and deep-draft capabilities. He said such improvements would support seamless logistics, faster trade and regional economic growth.
The successful berthing of the Capesize vessel at Western Dock-1 marks another step in enhancing Paradip Port’s capacity to handle large vessels and boost its role in India’s maritime trade.
