In a landmark achievement for India’s maritime and energy infrastructure, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) has successfully berthed the country’s first-ever fully laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) at Mundra Port. The vessel, MT New Renown, carrying approximately 3.3 lakh cubic metres of crude oil, marks a first for any Indian port to handle a fully laden VLCC directly at berth.
With this milestone, Mundra has joined a select group of global ports equipped with dedicated infrastructure capable of accommodating fully laden VLCCs—an operational feat achieved by only a handful of ports worldwide due to the extreme draft, displacement and engineering requirements of such vessels.
According to APSEZ, the berthing operation was carried out under challenging marine conditions, including strong currents, high winds and complex sea states. The successful handling underscored the technical expertise, coordination and operational excellence of the port’s marine team and management.
The capability to berth VLCCs at maximum displacement represents a transformative shift in India’s crude oil logistics. Direct jetty berthing eliminates dependence on offshore Single Point Moorings (SPMs) or lightering operations, enabling safer, faster and more cost-effective crude oil handling. This development strengthens APSEZ’s position as a leader in building future-ready, world-class port infrastructure aligned with India’s expanding energy and trade needs.
Strategic Energy and Economic Significance
A key differentiator of Mundra’s VLCC facility is its direct integration with India’s energy infrastructure. The jetty is connected through a nearly 489-km crude oil pipeline to the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery at Barmer—one of the country’s most strategic refining assets. This seamless linkage significantly enhances India’s energy security, improves the efficiency of large-scale crude imports, bolsters supply chain resilience, and supports regional economic growth across Gujarat and Rajasthan.
State-of-the-Art VLCC Jetty Infrastructure
The purpose-built VLCC jetty at Mundra is a pioneering engineering achievement, featuring:
- Jetty length: 400 metres
- Berth pocket depth: 25 metres
- Maximum acceptable LOA: 333 metres
- Maximum displacement: 3,60,000 tonnes
- Maximum draft: 21.6 metres
- Cargo handling:
- Two 20-inch crude oil loading arms
- Discharge rate of 10,000–12,000 cubic metres per hour
- Marine infrastructure:
- Four breasting dolphins
- Six mooring dolphins with high-capacity hooks (up to 150 tonnes SWL each)
- Advanced fender systems designed for ultra-large vessels
India’s Largest Commercial Port
APSEZ’s flagship Mundra Port, strategically located in the Gulf of Kutch, serves as a vital maritime gateway for northern and western India. The deep-water, all-weather port operates 27 berths along with two Single Point Moorings and handles a wide range of cargo, including dry bulk, break-bulk, project cargo, liquids, containers, automobiles and crude oil.
The port is capable of accommodating Capesize vessels, VLCCs, Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) and ultra-large container vessels. Mundra is also India’s largest container-handling port and leads the country in container throughput, import coal volumes and overall commercial cargo handling.
In 2024–25, Mundra became the first Indian port to handle more than 200 million tonnes of cargo in a single year, highlighting its unmatched scale and operational leadership. The port has also been recognised in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index for 2024 and 2025, reflecting its efficiency, reliability and adherence to global best practices.
With the successful berthing of a fully laden VLCC, Mundra Port has further strengthened India’s position on the global maritime and energy map.
