Jawaharlal Nehru Port to install India's first automated mooring system

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is set to introduce India’s first automated mooring system at the Gateway Terminals India (GTI) in Navi Mumbai. The project will utilize Cavotec Group’s ‘MoorMaster’ technology, which replaces traditional, heavy mooring ropes with automated vacuum pads to secure and release vessels.

The system is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency by reducing vessel turnaround times. By securing ships in less than 30 seconds, the technology could save at least one hour per berthing and unberthing process. For a terminal handling over 500 ships annually, this could recover approximately 500 hours of operational time, or roughly 21 working days, per year.

Beyond speed, the automation improves safety by removing the need for dockworkers to handle dangerous mooring lines. It also addresses space constraints at the 712-meter quay; by reducing the required safety gap between docked ships from 25 meters to 15 meters, the terminal can accommodate larger 368-meter mega ships alongside standard vessels. This upgrade supports GTI’s goal to increase capacity from 2.18 million TEUs to 3 million TEUs annually without physical waterfront expansion. Operations are expected to begin by the end of 2027.