Mundra Port berths India’s first fully laden VLCC, enhancing crude oil imports via a direct 489km refinery pipeline.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has achieved a landmark maritime milestone with the successful berthing of the first fully laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) in Indian history at Mundra Port. The arrival of the vessel, Mt New Renown, which boasts a cargo capacity of 3.3 lakh cubic metres, establishes Mundra as the premier Indian gateway capable of handling such massive tankers directly at a berth.
This achievement distinguishes the port as one of a select few globally equipped with a specialised jetty for direct VLCC docking. The operation was conducted on 08 January 2026 under demanding conditions involving significant swells and high-velocity winds, requiring precise coordination and technical expertise from the marine and port management teams.
Historically, vessels of this magnitude were forced to discharge cargo at offshore Single Point Moorings or through lightning processes transferring oil to smaller ships at sea. The new infrastructure at Mundra allows for maximum displacement berthing, offering a more secure, rapid, and economical method for processing large-scale imports.
The purpose-built jetty is an engineering feat designed to handle the extreme draft requirements of modern supertankers. Its specifications include:
- Total Jetty Length: 400 metres
- Berth Pocket Depth: 25 metres
- Maximum Draft Capacity: 21.6 metres
- Maximum Displacement: 3,60,000 tonnes
This facility is directly linked to a 489 km pipeline that transports crude to the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery in Barmer. This integrated network significantly strengthens national energy security and enhances supply chain resilience across western and northern India. As the largest commercial gateway in the country, Mundra continues to lead in cargo handling, having processed over 200 million metric tonnes in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
SOURCE – ANI
