Centre Approves NMPA Plan to Redevelop Berth No. 9.

The Union government has approved the New Mangalore Port Authority’s (NMPA) proposal to redevelop berth no. 9 for handling liquid bulk cargo on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis under the DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate, transfer) model, officials said. The approval was conveyed on March 25.

The project involves dismantling existing infrastructure and comprehensively redeveloping the berth to handle crude oil, petroleum products (POL), and LPG.

As part of the modernization, the berth draft will be increased from the current 10.5 metres to 14 metres, with provisions for a future-ready depth of up to 19.8 metres. The upgrade will enable the port to accommodate vessels of up to 2,00,000 DWT, including Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs).