Paradip: The port has recorded the movement of 467 merchant ships for cargo handling in January, setting a new record since its inception in 1962.

The Paradip Port Trust clocked the all-time monthly volume record in terms of cargo handling as it handled 10.18 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo last month, achieving its highest ever monthly total.

The previous record for total monthly cargo handling was recorded on December of 2017, when 9.5 MMT cargos were handled.

"It is a memorable occasion as the port achieved the rare feat of anchoring and berthing as many as 467 ships in a month. Never before, such large ship movement has been successfully completed in the port," said chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Rinkesh Roy.

This has been possible due to agile marine pilots, concerned stevedores, skilled workers and the co-operation extended by the traffic department, he added.

"There was rush of traffic last month. But, the ship movement was being carried out successfully in a hassle-free and co-ordinated manner. It has been a hectic and strenuous time for all of us. The ship movement is very impressive this month as well," said deputy conservator and harbour master of the port Atulya Kumar Mohapatra.

Paradip is now poised to join the "exclusive club" of country's ports with 100 Million Metric Ton (MMT) cargo handling per annum tag. In the current financial year, 83 MMT cargo handling has already been carried out by the port. "With mobile crane harbours in operation, we are confident of getting the better of 100 MMT cargo-handling when the current fiscal ends on March 31," Mohapatra added.

At present, the ports at Kandla and Mundra have the coveted "exclusive club" tag.