Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) The Kolkata Dock System (KDS) of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, recorded its highest-ever single-day container handling volume of 3,186 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) on Monday (July 6).

This achievement came on the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, after whom the country’s oldest operating port facility is named. This surpasses the port’s previous record of 3,081 TEUs, which was established just weeks prior on June 12, 2026.

“The single-day record caps off a remarkably successful first quarter (April–June 2026) for the port. SMP Kolkata registered a robust 8.40% year-on-year (YoY) growth in total container volume compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. From April to June, 2026, SMP Kolkata handled 2,53,945 TEUs against 2,34,272 TEUs handled during April to June, 2025, registering a growth of 8.40%,” an official said.

In another important development, JSW Infrastructure, concessionaire for the mechanised Berths 7 and 8 of KDS, commenced commercial operations with the handling of the first vessel at the facility. This marks the operationalisation of one of the port’s flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects and represents a major step towards enhancing cargo handling efficiency, productivity and customer service.

JSW Infrastructure has also secured the concession for the proposed Outer Berth Project, which will be the first Outer Berth ever developed in the history of SMP, Kolkata. Along with the modernisation of existing berths, this pioneering project is expected to significantly augment the port’s capacity and reinforce KDS’s position as the premier riverine gateway of Eastern India.

On Monday, SMP Kolkata successfully revived the mechanised Thermal Coal Handling Berth-3 at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), reopening one of the most efficient thermal coal handling facilities on the eastern coast. With this, mobilisation of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) for supply to southern thermal power utilities has commenced, and the first railway rake has arrived.

“Equipped with state-of-the-art wagon tipplers, mechanised conveyor systems and high-capacity ship loaders, Berth-3 is capable of handling thermal coal at among the most competitive tariffs across ports on the eastern coast of India,” the official said.

“The integrated rail-sea logistics model offers substantial freight advantages by enabling movement of ECL coal to Haldia through rail, followed by economical coastal shipment to thermal power plants, making the facility an attractive and cost-effective logistics solution for power producers,” he noted.

Rathendra Raman, chairman, SMP Kolkata, said that these milestones highlight the port’s continued focus on operational excellence, infrastructure optimisation and customer-centric service delivery. With ongoing modernisation initiatives and an improved cargo handling system, SMP Kolkata is well positioned to achieve higher benchmarks in the coming years, he said.

He also congratulated all trade partners, officers, employees and unions for these achievements.

–IANS

jg/uk