Showcasing its escalating capabilities in dry-bulk cargo processing, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) has achieved a new operational loading milestone at its Kandla terminal. Stevedoring and terminal teams successfully executed the ultra-rapid loading of 38,500 metric tonnes (MT) of bulk bentonite clay onto the merchant vessel MV Ultra Innovation.
The high-velocity export operation highlights the port's continuous efforts to optimize its berth utilization rates and reduce total turnaround times for international bulk carriers, reinforcing its position as a highly competitive gateway for industrial mineral exports.
Synchronized Crane Workflows and Fleet Management Halve Vessel Turnaround Intervals
The record-setting loading speed is the direct result of coordinated landside logistics and optimized seaside terminal management:
Maximizing Daily Tonne Rotations: To achieve the fast-loading milestone, the port mobilized high-capacity harbor cranes equipped with specialized heavy-duty grab buckets. This hardware configuration allowed workers to maintain a high continuous volume of material transfers from the staging yards directly into the vessel's massive cargo holds.
Streamlining Landside Mineral Supply Lines: The seaside speed was closely matched by a fluid landside trucking network. A continuous fleet of dump trucks moved the bentonite smoothly from regional mineral processors straight to the hook of the vessel, completely eliminating staging bottlenecks along the active berths.
Boosting Mineral Export Portfolios: Bentonite clay extensively utilized worldwide for drilling mud, foundry molds, and iron ore pelletizing represents a staple export commodity for the Gujarat maritime cluster. By proving it can process these high-mass mineral shipments at record speeds, Deendayal Port helps domestic exporters lower their ocean freight costs and secure a competitive edge in international markets.