India’s maritime and energy infrastructure has marked a milestone in the beginning of the year, when Mundra Port But the country’s first fully loaded Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) arrived directly at the jetty. This huge tanker named MT New Renown reached Mundra carrying about 3.3 lakh cubic meters of crude oil and with this, India for the first time joined the global list of ports with such capacity, where a fully loaded VLCC can be handled directly on the jetty.

This achievement is also considered important because till now India had to depend on offshore single point mooring (SPM) or lightering operations to handle such large crude oil vessels. This new capacity at Mundra will not only reduce this dependency but will also make handling of crude oil safer, faster and cost effective. The facility to directly berth fully loaded VLCCs at maximum displacement on jetties is being seen as a structural change in India’s crude oil logistics. The berthing of MT New Renown was accomplished in challenging sea conditions. The operation was successfully executed amidst strong winds, strong currents and difficult sea conditions, which clearly reflected the technical proficiency, precise planning and operational excellence of APSEZ’s marine team and port management. This is the reason why Mundra has today emerged as a port with advanced crude handling capabilities not only in India but globally.

This VLCC jetty of Mundra has become one of the few ports in the world where such depth and strong infrastructure exists that ships with draft of 21.6 meters and maximum displacement of up to 3,60,000 metric tons can be berthed directly at the jetty. This 400 meter long jetty has a berth pocket depth of 25 meters and is capable of handling vessels up to 333 meters in length. The two 20-inch crude oil loading arms installed here can discharge 10,000 to 12,000 cubic meters of crude oil per hour. The advanced fender system, four breasting dolphins and six mooring dolphins fitted with hooks with 150 tonne SWL capacity make this jetty completely safe for ultra-large vessels.

Strategically, this achievement is also very important for India’s energy security. The VLCC jetty at Mundra is directly connected to HPCL’s Barmer Refinery in Rajasthan, which is counted among the most important refining assets of the country, through an approximately 489 km long crude oil pipeline. This direct connectivity will increase efficiency in large-scale crude oil imports, make the supply chain stronger and accelerate economic activity in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Adani Mundra Port is already the largest commercial port in India. Located in the Gulf of Kutch, this deep-water, all-weather port serves as a major maritime gateway to North and West India. There are 27 operational berths and two single point moorings, and is capable of handling diverse cargo such as dry bulk, break-bulk, project cargo, liquids, containers, automobiles and crude oil. Mundra also handles Cape Size, VLCC, ULCC and Ultra Large Container Vessels with ease.

In FY 2024-25, Mundra became the first port in India to handle more than 200 million metric tons of cargo in a single year. Additionally, recognition in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index for 2024 and 2025 has further strengthened its global credentials.