Largest Container Ship in India Calls Port Mundra

The largest container ship ever to call Indian shores arrived Oct. 13 at the Port of Mundra, a deepwater cargo hub on the west coast.

The 332-meter Northern Jaguar, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company, called at the Adani Mundra Container Terminal to discharge import cargo.

Built in 2009, the vessel weighs 115,000 tons and has a nominal capacity of 8,400 20-foot equivalent units.

By The Numbers: U.S. Container Trade With India.

“The decision by MSC to dock the Northern Jaguar at AMCT demonstrates the faith of shipping lines in our facilities at Mundra. This is an important milestone in the history of Mundra Port, and endorses our capabilities to handle large container vessels with high productivity,” port owner Adani said.

Mundra, India’s biggest private port, currently has two container facilities, including the Mundra International Container Terminal operated by DP World.

Equipped with modern equipment, comprising four super post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes and 12 rubber-tired gantry cranes, supplemented by an alongside draft of 17.5 meters and dedicated rail connectivity with hinterland destinations, AMCT offers an annual capacity of 1.8 million TEUs. It is expected to handle over 1 million TEUs this year.

Mundra’s overall cargo tonnage in fiscal 2009-10 ended March 31 was estimated at 40 million tons. Current expansion plans for the port include a dedicated automobile terminal in a joint venture with Japan’s NYK Line and a coal terminal with annual capacity of 60 million metric tons.