Kolkata Port bolsters container handling with two new high-capacity mobile harbour cranes.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, today announced a significant upgrade to its container handling capabilities with the deployment of two additional high-capacity Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) at the Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) within the Kolkata Dock System (KDS).

This strategic enhancement will bring the total number of MHCs at KDS to six (6), marking a substantial boost in operational efficiency and a reduction in vessel turnaround time. The new MHCs, to be deployed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), are electricity powered, underscoring SMPK’s commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable port operations. To support this initiative, KDS is also establishing dedicated high-capacity electric power supply facilities within the dock premises.

The deployment of these energy-efficient, electric mobile harbour cranes represents a paradigm shift in our operational approach, SMP, Kolkata, chairman Rathendra Raman said in a statement. He said that the introduction of two high-powered mobile cranes in India’s only riverine and oldest port will go a long way in strengthening Kolkata’s position as a sustainable and pivotal container handling hub on the eastern seaboard, increasing KDS’s capacity up to 7.5 lakh TEUs (twenty equivalent unit) in the FY 2025-2026 and Kolkata Dock System (KDS) handled 6.19 lakh TEUs.

The commissioning of these new cranes is anticipated in the coming months and is expected to significantly improve the overall productivity and performance of the container terminal at NSD, further solidifying SMP Kolkata’s role as a vital gateway for trade in the region.

Team Maverick