Mundra Port Marks Historic Leap In India’s Crude Logistics With First Fully Loaded VLCC Berthing

India’s maritime and energy infrastructure has achieved a major milestone at the very start of the year, as Mundra Port successfully received the country’s first fully loaded Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) directly at a jetty.

The massive tanker, MT New Renown, arrived carrying around 3.3 lakh cubic metres of crude oil, placing India for the first time among a select group of global ports capable of handling fully laden VLCCs at a jetty.

Until now, Indian ports depended on offshore Single Point Mooring (SPM) systems or lighter operations to manage crude carriers of this size. Mundra’s new capability is expected to significantly reduce that dependence, while making crude oil handling safer, faster and more cost-effective.

The ability to berth fully loaded VLCCs at maximum displacement directly at the jetty is being seen as a structural shift in India’s crude oil logistics. The berthing of MT New Renown was completed amid challenging marine conditions, including strong winds and currents.

The successful operation highlighted the technical expertise, detailed planning and operational excellence of the APSEZ marine team and port management. With this achievement, Mundra has emerged not only as a key Indian port but also as a globally advanced hub for crude handling.

Advanced Infrastructure And Strategic Energy Linkages

Mundra’s VLCC jetty now ranks among a handful of ports worldwide equipped with the depth and robust infrastructure to berth vessels with a draft of 21.6 metres and a maximum displacement of up to 3,60,000 metric tonnes directly at the jetty.

The 400-metre-long jetty has a berth pocket depth of 25 metres and can handle ships up to 333 metres in length. Two 20-inch crude oil loading arms installed at the facility can discharge between 10,000 and 12,000 cubic metres of crude per hour.

The jetty is further secured by an advanced fender system, four breasting dolphins and six mooring dolphins fitted with hooks of 150-tonne SWL capacity, making it fully safe for ultra-large vessels.

Strategically, the development is also significant for India’s energy security. Mundra’s VLCC jetty is directly connected to HPCL’s Barmer refinery in Rajasthan—considered one of the country’s most critical refining assets—through a crude oil pipeline spanning nearly 489 kilometres. This direct linkage is expected to enhance efficiency in large-scale crude imports, strengthen the supply chain and boost economic activity across Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Operated by the Adani Group, Mundra Port is already India’s largest commercial port. Located in the Gulf of Kutch, the deep-water, all-weather port serves as a key maritime gateway for northern and western India.

With 27 operational berths and two single-point moorings, Mundra handles a wide range of cargo, including dry bulk, break-bulk, project cargo, liquids, containers, automobiles and crude oil. The port is also equipped to manage Capesize vessels, VLCCs, ULCCs and ultra-large container vessels.

In FY 2024–25, Mundra became the first Indian port to handle more than 200 million metric tonnes of cargo in a single year. Its recognition in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index for 2024 and 2025 has further reinforced its standing on the global maritime map.

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