Deendayal Port sees record 81,024 tonnes of coal discharged in 24 hours with 'unmatched speed'

The Deendayal Port in Gujarat's Kandla has set a new record after a whopping 81,024 tonnes of coal were speedily discharged in just 24 hours from the MV Marathos (IMO: 9512056).

The coal handling record was achieved on Saturday when the Bahamian-flagged bulk carrier was docked at the port's No. 7 cargo berth. It later sailed to a port in Mumbai, as per Marine Traffic data.

"A benchmark of unmatched speed, precision & teamwork," the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) wrote on X, lauding the historic achievement for the port.

The port authority has also credited the success to its execution partners—Shree Ashapura Stevedores, Seascape Shipping Agency India Pvt Ltd (the vessel agent), Shri Balaji Infraport (the Customs House Agent, or CHA), and Balaji Malts Private Limited (the importer).

This comes days after the port broke yet another of its own records. On November 17, the Deendayal Port handled 40 vessels in just 24 hours, crossing its earlier record of 38, set in December 2023.

"A direct result of India’s steady reduction in port turnaround times and continued focus on delivering world-class maritime efficiency," Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal wrote in an X post, lauding the DPA.

The DPA, which recently forayed into public utility initiatives in connection with the Gandhidham Municipal Corporation, was also the recipient of the prestigious Samudra Manthan Award for achieving a historic 150 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo handling milestone.

These achievements are in line with the DPA's maritime ambitions of becoming a major greenfield port that can handle Panamax-size vessels (65,000–80,000 dwt), and India's larger maritime goals under the Maritime Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.