Mangaluru: Two large vessels carrying crude oil have arrived at the New Mangalore Port, strengthening supply lines to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL). The arrivals are expected to support ongoing refining operations and ensure steady fuel production in the region.
According to port and refinery sources, the vessel Sunrise Way docked on Monday with a substantial cargo of 88,152 metric tonnes of Mandji crude oil sourced from Africa. The vessel is currently engaged in unloading operations at MRPL’s dedicated oil jetty.
Russian crude shipment reaches offshore facility
In addition to this, another vessel, Nagarjuna, carrying 97,354 metric tonnes of crude oil from Primorsk port in Russia, has reached the Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility off the coast of Mangaluru. The unloading process for this shipment is scheduled to commence on April 1.
The SPM facility plays a crucial role in handling large crude carriers, enabling efficient transfer of oil directly to the refinery without congestion at the main port berths.
Third vessel expected on April 3
Meanwhile, a third vessel, Deshbhakt, is expected to arrive at the port on April 3. It is carrying 63,171 metric tonnes of Mangala crude oil sourced from Rajasthan. This shipment will also be routed to MRPL for processing.
The arrival of multiple vessels within a short span highlights the scale of crude procurement required to maintain refinery throughput and meet fuel demand.
Ensuring steady supply for refinery operations
Industry observers note that diversified sourcing—from Africa, Russia, and domestic oilfields—helps ensure stability in supply chains and shields operations from disruptions in any single region.
Officials indicated that timely arrivals and efficient unloading operations are critical for maintaining production schedules at the refinery. The coordination between port authorities and MRPL has been instrumental in handling such high-volume shipments seamlessly.
Conclusion
The back-to-back arrival of crude oil vessels at New Mangalore Port underscores the strategic importance of the port in supporting India’s energy infrastructure. With another shipment on the way, MRPL is set to maintain steady refining operations in the coming days.