Paradip Port achieves major milestone, berths first Capesize vessel with 16.5-metre draft

Paradip Port Authority has successfully berthed MV Mineral Kwangyang, its first-ever Capesize vessel with a 16.5-metre draft, at Western Dock-1 (WD-1). Carrying 152,702 MT of coking coal from Hay Point, Australia, the 292-metre vessel marked a significant milestone in PPA’s deep-draft vessel handling capability.

The vessel, measuring 45 metres in breadth, arrived at Paradip on September 5 and was berthed at 6am on Sunday. The successful berthing demonstrates the port’s enhanced ability to accommodate larger and higher-capacity bulk carriers, and is expected to improve cargo-handling efficiency and reduce vessel turnaround time for major industrial users. The milestone was achieved through coordinated efforts of the Paradip Port Authority and Jindal Paradip Port Ltd (JPPL), with Rajendra Kumar, Traffic Manager, PPA, and Sandeep Jaiswal, Deputy CEO, JPPL, exchanging pleasantries after the successful berthing.

Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority, congratulated Team PPA and Team JPPL on the landmark achievement.

The milestone comes shortly after Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects worth Rs 427.80 crore at Paradip, marking the port’s 18.5-metre deep-draft capability and its one-millionth tree milestone, while also witnessing the signing of concession agreements for three mechanisation projects worth Rs 1,580.36 crore aimed at further strengthening the port’s capacity, efficiency and cargo-handling capabilities. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, those projects span navigation, connectivity, safety, sustainability, residential infrastructure and community development, while the mechanisation projects are aimed at improving cargo handling and reducing vessel turnaround time. Sonowal said the investments would strengthen Paradip’s position as a major maritime gateway and create wider economic opportunities across the eastern region.