First capesize vessel calls at Dighi Port

Maharashtra-based Dighi Port handled the first capesize vessel – MV ‘Luciana Della Gatta’ of 1.22 lakh DWT, loaded with coal recently.

This is the maiden handling of large bulk carriers by the multi-purpose port, which is located 42 nautical miles from Mumbai.

The port achieved a discharge rate of 800 tonne per hour in handling the coal cargo, Vijay Kalantri, Chairman and Managing Director, Dighi Port, said through a press release.

The all-weather port, which is promoted jointly by Balaji Infra projects, IL&FS and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, will have three berths in the first phase.

Of these, the first one has been in operations for the past few months. During the current year so far, the port has handled half a million ton of cargo.

The port has been handling regular shipments of bauxite, steel and coal and had a throughput of over 3.5 million tonne till date. Dighi, which is part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), is linked to National Highway 17 and is near to Konkan rail route.