Kandla Creates Maritime History with India’s 1st Triple Banking Ship-to-Ship Operation at a Tidal Port

Kandla Port has etched a landmark achievement in India’s maritime operational history, becoming the first tidal port in the country to successfully execute a Triple Banking Ship-to-Ship (STS) operation — a feat of logistics coordination and technical precision that has drawn wide recognition within the Indian ports sector.

The operation involved three vessels positioned side by side in a highly demanding tandem configuration. A Capesize vessel, the largest class of bulk carrier, discharged approximately 1,17,000 tonnes of cargo to a transshipment vessel in one simultaneous transfer. At the same time, a second tandem operation transferred 77,000 tonnes of cargo onto a Panamax vessel — bringing the total cargo moved in the single triple-banking operation to approximately 1,94,000 tonnes. The combined operation was carried out under the challenging conditions of a tidal port, where strong tidal variations make the precise manoeuvring required for multi-vessel berthing significantly more complex than at non-tidal facilities.

Technical and Operational Complexity

Triple banking — the simultaneous berthing of three vessels in a side-by-side configuration for cargo transfer — is considered one of the most demanding manoeuvres in commercial port operations. It requires precise alignment and stabilisation of all three hulls, real-time coordination among multiple vessel captains, tug operators, and terminal logistics teams, and strict adherence to safety protocols throughout a transfer lasting many hours.

At a tidal port such as Kandla, where water levels can vary significantly over the course of a day, the operational window for such a manoeuvre is further constrained. Executing the operation without incident demonstrates a high level of technical competence that places Kandla among the operationally elite ports in the country.

Strategic Importance of the Achievement

The achievement is strategically significant beyond its operational impressiveness. Kandla — officially Deendayal Port Authority — is India’s largest port by cargo volume and a critical gateway for bulk commodities including crude oil, fertilisers, and edible oils. Its ability to handle complex, large-scale STS operations enhances its capacity to manage surge cargo volumes, support offshore lightening operations for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) that cannot berth directly, and attract shipping lines operating the largest vessel classes.

Timing Amid Hormuz Crisis

The triple banking operation also carries particular significance in the context of the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis. With conventional sea routes disrupted and India working to accelerate the discharge and turnround of energy cargo vessels, maximising the throughput efficiency of major ports like Kandla is essential. The ability to simultaneously handle cargo from three vessels — including Capesize bulk carriers — reduces vessel waiting time, cuts port stay costs, and helps maintain the tempo of India’s energy import operations during a period of acute supply chain pressure.