Dhamra: Breaking national record of handling dry bulk cargo in a single day, Dhamra Port in Odisha discharged an unprecedented 1,32,365 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cargo within the 24-hour window on Tuesday. Thus demonstrating a world-class operational efficiency.
The record was achieved during the unloading of the Cape-size vessel MV ASL OTSL2, a coal shipment originated from Queensland in Australia 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. The recorded highest 24-hour discharge by unloading 1, 32, 365 MT in the first 24 hours surpassing the previous best milestone of 1,27,867 MT (set by the vessel MV Patragas handling single-grade steam coal) It also achieved 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 the 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. Successfully discharging both at record speeds required flawless operational execution, rigorous grade-wise segregation, and meticulous yard planning to ensure zero contamination for Tata Steel.
Devendra Thakar, CEO of DPCL, said, “This milestone further solidifies Dhamra Port’s position as the preferred maritime gateway on the East Coast of India. Backed by highly mechanized 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.”
