DP WORLD Cochin beat the subcontinent's shallow coastal waters, long the curse of Indian shipping, by docking the 15,934-TEU MSC Mara, the largest ship ever to dock in India, reports Chennai's Hindu daily.

It was also the largest to berth at International Container Transshipment Terminal(ICTT) Cochin, also known as the Vallarpadam terminal.

This also marks the highest throughput achieved on MSC Mara at ICTT. With the handling of the containers on MSC Mara, the ICTT also crossed the milestone of handling over seven million TEU since its commissioning.

In December 2023, ICTT commissioned two state-of-the-art ship-to-shore mega max cranes capable of handling up to 25 container rows. Alongside four new e-RTGs and expanded yard capacity, these upgrades enable faster vessel turnarounds.

The enhanced lift capacity and handling capabilities significantly improved productivity to accommodate ultra-large container vessels.

The berthing of MSC Mara reflects the terminal's increasingly pivotal role as a preferred gateway and burgeoning transshipment terminal for cargo movement to and from markets in south India, the press release said.

The growth of cargo handled by ICTT Vallarpadam underscores its place as a key hub for cargo movement and connectivity. By connecting close to 50 per cent of EXIM cargo directly to the West Asia, Far East, Europe and the Mediterranean through mainline services, the terminal plays a crucial role in facilitating trade flows.