On Sunday, Odisha’s Paradip Port made a significant achievement by successfully docking the large Capesize vessel MV Mineral Kwangyang at Western Dock No. 1. This event marked the inaugural berthing of a Capesize vessel with a draft of 16.5 meters at this particular dock.

The 292-meter-long vessel arrived from Hay Point Port in Australia, carrying 152,702 metric tonnes of coking coal. Its docking was completed successfully on a trial basis in anticipation of the Prime Minister’s upcoming inauguration of the Western Dock berth.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized that the successful berthing of the first Capesize vessel at Western Dock-1 represents a major milestone for Paradip Port in Odisha. He stated, “Led by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are elevating our ports with deep-draft capabilities for seamless logistics, faster trade and driving regional economic growth.”

Looking ahead, Paradip Port aims to accommodate even larger-draft vessels in the future, with plans to handle cargo ships featuring a draft of 18.5 meters shortly.

This accomplishment is expected to bolster the port’s readiness to manage vessels of increased draft capacity as it pursues its 18.5-meter goal.