Operations 2 min read
Berth or anchorage at Kandla: choosing the discharge plan
How discharging alongside compares with anchorage and barges on waiting time, handling, weather and cost.
At Kandla, a bulk vessel can discharge alongside a berth or at anchorage into barges. Each option changes the cost, the speed and the equipment needed. Choosing well before the vessel arrives saves days and avoids disputes.
Discharging at the berth
Alongside a berth, cargo can go straight from the hook into trucks, onto the quay or into storage. It is simpler to supervise and usually the preferred option when a berth is available and the draft allows.
Discharging at anchorage
At anchorage, cargo is discharged into barges and landed at the jetties. It is used when berths are congested, or when a larger vessel needs to lighten before it can come into the creek.
How the options compare
| Berth | Anchorage | |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting time | Depends on berth availability | Can start sooner when berths are busy |
| Handling | One handling from hook to truck | Extra handling via barges and jetties |
| Weather | Less exposed | More exposed to swell and wind |
| Cost | Usually lower per tonne | Barge and extra handling costs |
What to check before deciding
- The vessel's arrival draft against the creek and berth limits
- Berth congestion for the expected arrival window
- Cargo type, and whether extra handling could damage it
- Season and weather, especially during the monsoon
- What the charter party says about shifting and laytime at anchorage
Combining both
Some calls use both: the vessel lightens at anchorage until its draft allows berthing, then completes discharge alongside. Planning this sequence early keeps barges, gangs and trucks working without gaps.
How Globelink helps
We price both options for your vessel and cargo and advise which suits the call. Read about our stevedoring service, our vessel agency, and our Kandla port services, including work at Tuna Tekra.
Talk to our port team
Questions about your own cargo? We will come back with one plan and one quote covering every stage.
