Dhamra: The Dhamra Port in Odisha surpassed the national record for dry bulk cargo handling on June 30 by discharging 1,32,365 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo within 24-hour window.
The coal shipment originated from Queensland, Australia.
According to a company release, the record was achieved during the unloading of the Cape-size vessel MV ASL OTSL2, carrying 1,65,283 MT of coking coal for Tata Steel. “The port operations team established two separate national records during this single berthing at Berth-2: Highest 24-Hour Discharge: By unloading 1, 32, 365 MT in the first 24 hours, the port has surpassed the previous best milestone of 1,27,867 MT (set by the vessel MV Patragas handling single-grade steam coal), and Fastest Multi-Grade Turnaround: The entire cargo of 1.65 Lakh MT was fully discharged in a record-breaking completion time of just 38 hours.”
Overcoming Complex Logistical Challenges
What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is the complex nature of the cargo. Unlike steam coal, coking coal is a non-free-flowing commodity making rapid mechanical extraction significantly more difficult.
Furthermore, the MV ASL OTSL2 carried two entirely different grades of coking coal- Goonyella and PCI. Discharging both at record speeds required flawless operational execution, rigorous grade-wise segregation, and meticulous yard planning to ensure zero contamination for Tata Steel, it said.
Devendra Thakar, CEO of DPCL, has extended special thanks to various state and central government departments, attributing part of the port’s success to their continuous support and guidance.
Powering the East Coast’s Future
This milestone further solidifies Dhamra Port’s position as the preferred maritime gateway on the East Coast of India. 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, it added.
