New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has been awarded as the second best container port in the country (handling less than 0.5 million TEUs) by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

The ‘Sagar Aankalan’ certificate was presented to AV Ramana, NMPA Chairman, by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in Mumbai on Thursday.

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A media statement said the ranking of Indian ports was conducted under the ‘Sagar Aankalan’ ranking framework introduced by MoPSW in February 2024, aligning Indian ports with the Logistics Performance Index of the World Bank. This evaluation aims to enhance efficiency, competitiveness and global standing of Indian ports by assessing key operational and logistics performance metrics.

NMPA recorded 18.67 per cent growth in container cargo during 2023-24. This was achieved through the seamless transition from a port-based model to a fully operational PPP container terminal under JSW Infrastructure in 2022, it said.

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NMPA has initiated phase-II of the container terminal mechanisation. This expansion will enhance capacity, improve operational efficiency and position NMPA as a key trade hub in the Indian maritime sector, it said.