Ahmedabad, January 8 (IANS). Thursday was a momentous day in India’s maritime history as Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) welcomed India’s first fully loaded crude oil carrier.
With the docking of Mount New Renown, with a total cargo capacity of 3.3 lakh cubic metres, Mundra has become the first port in India capable of handling fully loaded VLCCs (Very Large Crude Containers) at the berth, the Adani Group company said in a statement.
The statement further said that Mount New Renown was successfully operated in challenging conditions such as strong currents, winds and sea waves, reflecting the expertise, coordination and excellent operational capability of APSEZ’s maritime team and port management.
Mundra’s VLCC jetty is seamlessly connected to HPCL Rajasthan Refinery at Barmer through a 489 km long crude oil pipeline, one of India’s most strategic refining assets.
This direct connectivity significantly enhances India’s energy security, efficiency of large-scale crude oil imports, supply chain sustainability and regional economic development in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The port facility allows fully loaded VLCCs to dock at maximum displacement, representing a paradigm shift in India’s crude oil logistics, enabling safer, faster and more cost-effective handling of crude through direct jetty operations.
The company pointed out that direct jetty berthing facilities for fully laden VLCC vessels are available only at a limited number of ports around the world due to the high draft, displacement and infrastructure requirements of these vessels.
The company further said that with this achievement, Mundra Port now joins select global crude oil handling hubs, strengthening India’s position on the global maritime and energy map. Mundra’s advanced vessel handling capabilities eliminate the reliance on offshore single point mooring (SPM) or lightering operations that were traditionally used for such large vessels.
According to Adani Group, Mundra Port becomes the first port in India to handle more than 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in a single year in 2024-25, showcasing its unique capacity and operations.
–IANS
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