Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, has commissioned its first two electric powered mobile harbour cranes at Netaji Subhas Dock, replacing fossil fuel equipment with cleaner technology supplied by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone.

 

The addition raises the dock’s crane fleet to six and marks the port’s initial step towards fully electrified cargo operations.

“These energy efficient cranes signal a paradigm shift in how we handle containers and will help position Kolkata as a sustainable hub on India’s eastern seaboard,” said SMP Chairman Rathendra Raman. To support the new machinery, high capacity electrical infrastructure is being installed across the dock estate.

SMP handled 619,000 TEUs in 2024 25, and management expects capacity to climb to 750,000 TEUs in 2025 26 once all six cranes are fully integrated.

The upgrade is part of a wider modernisation plan under which Adani Ports will invest about Rs 5.7 billion to deploy advanced cargo handling equipment. India’s largest port operator is managing five berths at Netaji Subhas Dock on a five year operation and maintenance contract.