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Mumbai Port Authority marked India’s 80th Independence Day at Indira Dock on Saturday, with officials highlighting the port’s role in the country’s maritime economy and its record cargo performance in fiscal 2025-26.
The flag-hoisting ceremony began at 8 a.m. with the arrival of participating platoons, followed by the arrival of Chief Guest Vipin Menoth, Traffic Manager, Mumbai Port Authority. The programme included the singing of Vande Mataram, hoisting of the National Flag, the National Anthem, a parade inspection, an address by Menoth, felicitation and a cultural programme.
Senior port officials, Central Industrial Security Force personnel, police representatives, employees, workers and members of the wider port community attended the event.
In his address, Menoth recalled the contribution of workers in Bombay’s docks, mills and other workplaces to the freedom movement, while noting that the port’s workforce has continued to play a role in the city and the country’s economic development.
He said Mumbai Port had been sustained for more than 150 years by workers and maritime professionals whose contribution has supported the growth of the national economy.
The port handled 75.15 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2025-26, its highest-ever annual throughput, representing a 9% increase from the previous year. The performance comes as India seeks to expand maritime capacity and improve the efficiency and sustainability of its logistics infrastructure.
Menoth said Mumbai Port would focus on strengthening its operations through digitalisation, safety measures and environmental sustainability as India works towards its 2047 development objectives.
The Independence Day programme also formed part of the Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign, which runs from August 9 to 17. Mumbai Port Authority encouraged its departments, employees, port workers, seafarers and other associated personnel to participate by displaying the National Flag, singing Vande Mataram and registering their participation through the campaign’s official digital platform.
Merchant ships, port facilities and other maritime establishments were also encouraged to display the National Flag during the campaign period. The celebrations concluded with a cultural programme, bringing together the port’s administrative, operational and security personnel at Indira Dock.
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Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has achieved a significant operational milestone with the successful berthing of MV Mineral Kwangyang, its first-ever Capesize vessel with a 16.5-metre draft, at Western Dock-1 (WD-1). The development marks a major step forward in the port’s deep-draft vessel handling capabilities and reinforces its position as a key maritime gateway for bulk cargo in eastern India. The 292-metre-long and 45-metre-wide vessel arrived carrying 152,702 metric tonnes of coking coal from Hay Point, Australia. Its successful berthing demonstrates Paradip Port’s growing ability to accommodate larger bulk carriers and handle substantial cargo volumes through a single vessel call. The milestone is particularly significant for the port’s logistics and cargo-handling operations, as deeper-draft capabilities allow larger vessels to carry higher volumes, potentially improving economies of scale, cargo evacuation and overall supply chain efficiency. The development also strengthens Paradip’s role in supporting India’s bulk cargo and industrial supply chains, particularly across the eastern region. Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority, congratulated Team PPA and Team JPPL for their coordinated efforts in executing the landmark operation. The successful berthing underscores the port’s operational preparedness, infrastructure capabilities and focus on safely handling larger vessels. The achievement comes amid a broader infrastructure expansion programme at Paradip. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal earlier inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects worth ₹427.80 crore at PPA, marking the port’s 18.5-metre deep-draft capability and its one-millionth tree milestone. He also witnessed the signing of concession agreements for three mechanisation projects worth ₹1,580.36 crore, aimed at strengthening cargo-handling capacity, operational efficiency and reducing vessel turnaround time. Sonowal said: "The expansion of Paradip Port's capacity is not only about strengthening one port; it is about creating a growth multiplier for eastern India. With deeper drafts, modern cargo-handling infrastructure, improved connectivity and greater mechanisation, Paradip is well positioned to drive trade, logistics, industry and employment across the region and contribute to India's emergence as a globally competitive maritime economy," With deeper berthing capability, infrastructure modernisation and increased mechanisation, Paradip Port is positioning itself to handle the next generation of large vessels while supporting higher cargo throughput and more efficient maritime logistics. The latest Capesize berthing therefore represents not only an operational achievement but also another step in strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure and eastern trade gateway. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has overtaken Singapore to become the world’s second-busiest container port during the first half of 2026, according to the latest container throughput rankings compiled by shipping analyst Alphaliner. The shift marks a notable change in the global port hierarchy, although the margin between the two gateways remains narrow. Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 22.90 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) between January and June 2026, registering an 8.8% year-on-year increase. Singapore, meanwhile, processed 22.74 million TEUs, up 4.7% from the corresponding period last year. The difference of roughly 160,000 TEUs highlights the increasingly competitive race for the second position. Shanghai retained its position as the world’s busiest container port, handling approximately 28.74 million TEUs in the first half of 2026, an increase of 6.2% year on year. The latest ranking therefore places two Chinese ports at the top, with Ningbo-Zhoushan moving ahead of Singapore for the first time over a complete six-month reporting period. Jintang Expansion Strengthens Ningbo-Zhoushan Ningbo-Zhoushan’s stronger growth has been supported by capacity expansion and improved international connectivity. The second phase of the Jintang container hub was completed in July 2026, bringing all five operational container berths within the expanded development. During the first half of the year, Jintang added 17 international shipping routes, while its container volumes increased by 23.4%. The expansion is expected to strengthen the port complex’s ability to accommodate rising cargo demand and serve an expanding network of global trade lanes. The port has experienced significant growth over the past two decades, crossing 20 million TEUs in 2015 and 30 million TEUs in 2021. In 2025, it exceeded 40 million TEUs for the first time, handling 43.87 million TEUs for the full year. Singapore remained ahead in the annual ranking, recording 44.66 million TEUs. Competition Expected to Remain Close Despite Ningbo-Zhoushan’s first-half lead, Singapore remains a formidable competitor. Alphaliner has indicated that Ningbo-Zhoushan’s growth could moderate during the second half of 2026, leaving open the possibility of Singapore reclaiming the second position. For global supply chains, the development underscores how port investments, shipping connectivity, cargo generation and changing trade patterns are reshaping the competitive landscape. With only a small volume separating the two ports, the battle for the world’s second-busiest container gateway is likely to remain closely watched through the remainder of 2026. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has approved a ₹334.89-crore internal flyover at Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) to ease cargo evacuation, reduce congestion and improve the movement of vehicles within the port. The 3.584-km elevated corridor will connect Convent Junction with the Dock Area, separating road and rail traffic and addressing delays caused by frequent closures at nine railway level crossings. The crossings reportedly see around 18 gate closures each day due to high train exchange volumes, resulting in vehicle queues, longer waiting times, increased fuel consumption and higher operating costs. The project was approved by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and appraised by the Delegated Investment Board, chaired by the Ministry’s Secretary. Sonowal said the project would address a critical bottleneck at the port and enable faster, more efficient cargo movement. The scope includes civil and electrical works, utility shifting, safety installations and five years of maintenance. Construction will be planned to minimise disruption to ongoing port operations, particularly in key dock areas. The elevated corridor is expected to reduce road-rail conflicts and improve last-mile connectivity, supporting smoother cargo evacuation from the port. The project is aligned with the government’s broader focus on integrated infrastructure development under the PM GatiShakti framework. The flyover is scheduled for completion within 30 months of commencement and is expected to strengthen the operational efficiency of Visakhapatnam Port and its role in India’s maritime logistics network. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
