DPA Kandla celebrates 63rd National Maritime Day with historic achievements & strategic milestones
GANDHIDHAM : On the occasion of the 63rd National Maritime Day, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla organized a Press Meet on Saturday, chaired by Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman, DPA, highlighting the port’s remarkable achievements and future-ready initiatives in India’s maritime sector.
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman extended warm greetings to the entire maritime fraternity and stated:
“It is a matter of great honour and privilege to be present here today on the occasion of the 63rd National Maritime Day. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all members of the maritime community, whose relentless efforts continue to strengthen our nation’s maritime sector.”
Significance of National Maritime Day
National Maritime Day, celebrated on 5th April, commemorates the historic voyage of SS Loyalty in 1919, the first ship of an Indian shipping, company that sailed from Mumbai to London. This landmark event marked the beginning of India’s journey towards self-reliance in maritime trade and shipping.
Historic Cargo Achievement – Crossing 160 Million Tons, DPA Kandla has achieved an extraordinary milestone by crossing 160
Million Metric Tonnes (160.11 MMT) of cargo handling during FY 2025–26 — the highest-ever cargo volume handled by any Major Port in India.
Key Highlights:
➢ India’s No. 1 Major Port: DPA has achieved the Numero-Uno, position among all Major Ports in the country.
➢ Best Performer: Leading all India Major Ports with the highest, cargo throughput.
➢ Unmatched Growth: Has grown from 150 Million Tons last year to 160 Million Tons this year, 7% Y-o-Y growth over a high baseline.
This monumental feat is a testament to the relentless efforts of the port’s leadership, employees, dock workers, trade unions, PPP operators, all stakeholders and dedicated Shramiks, who have contributed to making DPA a beacon of operational excellence and national pride.
Commodity wise analysis
There has been around 32% increase in fertilizers, 23.4% increase in liquid cargo and 54% increase in Container cargo. Other commodities that, added to Kandla’s volumes are Iron & Steel (43% growth) & Clay (17% growth). However, there has been a drop in certain commodities like Timber (4.3% drop), Salt (12.4% drop), Crude & POL at Vadinar (5 % drop) & Coal (2.8% drop). Inspite of these reduction in certain commodities,
Kandla Port had compensated these shortfall by increased volume of Container traffic, Fertilizer and liquid Cargo at Kandla and has crossed, 160.11 Million Tons.Methanol Bunkering – A Leap Towards Green Maritime Future In a major stride towards maritime decarbonization, DPA Kandla has successfully demonstrated Methanol Bunkering (Shore-to-Ship) on 2
nd April 2026, marking a pioneering achievement in India’s port sector.
Kandla Port is emerging as a frontrunner in adopting low-carbon alternative fuels, aligning with the global target of achieving Net-Zero Emissions by 2050.
Key Developments:
- Existing infrastructure already compatible with methanol handling
- Assessed at Level-6 on IAPH PRL-Methanol Bunkering Scale by
DNV Maritime Advisory Services - Successful trial conducted in collaboration with STOLT Tankers,
J.M. Baxi, Aegis Vopak, IOCL, and validated by DNV - Plans underway to supply ~500 KTPA of e-Methanol by 2028–29
for international trade routes - Next phase: Ship-to-Ship Methanol Bunkering
This milestone positions Kandla as a key enabler in global green
shipping corridors, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainability and
clean energy transition.
Celebrating the Milestone:
To commemorate this remarkable milestone, celebrations were held across multiple locations:
Chairman’s Address
Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, DPA, expressed his gratitude: “Crossing the historic milestone of 160 Million Tons is not merely an achievement in numbers, but a reflection of the unwavering commitment, synergy, and resilience of the entire port community.
This accomplishment stands as a testament to our collective strength and continuous pursuit of excellence. Under the visionary
leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, DPA Kandla is proud to contribute towards building a stronger, selfreliant and globally competitive maritime ecosystem.”
This milestone reflects DPA’s commitment to the “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and reinforce its role as a crucial pillar in India’s maritime and economic growth.
