<p data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">KANDLA / GANDHIDHAM</b> — Setting a new benchmark for offshore cargo lighterage along India’s western seaboard, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) at Kandla has achieved an all-time operational high of <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="198">12.7 million tonnes (MT)</b> in transshipment handled exclusively through Ship-to-Ship (STS) operations up to September 1, 2026.</p><p data-path-to-node="4">The performance represents a decisive operational leap in managing high-volume liquid and dry bulk transfers in the deep-water anchorages of the Gulf of Kutch. By deploying high-precision multi-vessel lighterage, DPA has expanded its offshore throughput capabilities, enabling deep-draft mother vessels—including Capesize bulk carriers, Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), and Suezmax tankers—to safely discharge payloads onto coastal daughter vessels, product tankers, and feeder barges without encountering draft limitations at inner-creek berths.</p><h6 data-path-to-node="5"><b>High-Precision Offshore Transfer in a Dynamic Tidal Environment</b></h6><p data-path-to-node="6">Executing ship-to-ship lighterage within the Gulf of Kutch presents unique hydrodynamic complexities due to wide tidal variations and strong sea currents. DPA Kandla’s marine department achieved this volume through rigorous operational and safety protocols:</p><ul data-path-to-node="7"><li><p data-path-to-node="7,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Tandem and Triple-Banking Execution:</b> Building on earlier technical milestones involving simultaneous triple-banking—where three vessels are secured in tandem for simultaneous cargo distribution—marine pilots and tug masters maintained seamless stabilization and dynamic fenders throughout continuous pumping and grab-unloading cycles.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,1,0" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-320"><span data-path-to-node="7,1,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Liquid Hydrocarbon &amp; Edible Oil Acceleration:</b> A dominant share of the 12.7 MT transshipment volume consisted of crude oil, Petroleum, Oil &amp; Lubricants (POL), liquefied chemicals, and edible oils, coordinated closely with DPA’s Offshore Oil Terminal network at Vadinar</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,1,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2043504548=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="7,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Real-Time Weather and Towage Coordination:</b> Offshore transfer zones were governed by real-time meteorological tracking, dynamic draft monitoring, and high-bollard-pull harbor tugs to ensure zero cargo spillages or environmental contamination during open-water transfers.</p></li></ul><h6 data-path-to-node="8"><b>Sustained Momentum in National Throughput Rankings</b></h6><p data-path-to-node="9" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-321"><span data-path-to-node="9,0">The 12.7 MT transshipment milestone follows an exceptional series of operational records set by Deendayal Port across the current 2026–27 financial year</span><span data-path-to-node="9,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="9,2">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2043504548=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-322"><span data-path-to-node="10,0,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Fastest to 70 MMT:</b> On August 22, 2026, DPA Kandla breached the <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="63">70 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT)</b> cargo handling mark in record time—achieving the target <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="150">32 days ahead</b> of the previous fiscal year while recording a <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="210">23.02% year-on-year growth</b></span><span data-path-to-node="10,0,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,0,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2043504548=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-323"><span data-path-to-node="10,1,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Single-Day Volume Benchmarks:</b> The port established a national peak single-day handling volume of <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="97">783,816 metric tonnes</b> on July 27, while the Vadinar Offshore Terminal logged a 24-hour liquid bulk discharge record of <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="216">509,101 metric tonnes</b></span><span data-path-to-node="10,1,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,1,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2043504548=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-324"><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Fast-Tracked 50 MMT Breach:</b> Kandla became the fastest major port to cross the 50 MMT threshold earlier in July, reaching the volume 19 days faster than in FY 2025–26</span><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2043504548=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><h6 data-path-to-node="11"><b>Macroeconomic and Energy Security Significance</b></h6><p data-path-to-node="12">DPA Chairman <b data-path-to-node="12" data-index-in-node="13">Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME</b>, praised the collective dedication, operational discipline, and technical coordination across the entire maritime ecosystem:</p><blockquote data-path-to-node="13"><p data-path-to-node="13,0"><i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="0">"Setting new benchmarks at sea, DPA Kandla has achieved an all-time high of 12.7 million tonnes in Ship-to-Ship transshipment operations up to September 1, 2026. This landmark reflects the unwavering dedication, teamwork, and operational excellence of Team DPA, our marine pilots, terminal operators, stevedores, and trade stakeholders. It reaffirms Kandla's pivotal role in supporting India’s port-led growth and energy logistics."</i></p></blockquote><p data-path-to-node="14" id="p-rc_c6d19a1815c4d897-325"><span data-path-to-node="14,0">Logistics planners emphasize that expanding offshore STS transshipment capacity is essential for India’s energy resilience. By compressing turnaround times for international mega-tankers and bulk carriers, STS lighterage lowers demurrage outlays, bypasses quayside berth waiting windows, and feeds an uninterrupted pipeline of crude oil, industrial raw materials, and agricultural inputs to refineries and manufacturing corridors across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR</span><span data-path-to-node="14,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c931024985="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c931024985="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="14,2">.</span></p>