With half the world's iron ore requirements met by imports predominantly sea-borne, not only does the shipment of huge quantities of iron ore worldwide pose unique handling problems to both producers and consumers, but ocean freight, together with other shipping and cargo handling costs, make up a large part of the cost of the cargo delivered to steel makers.

Mormugao Port 

In Goa currently more than 50% of ore loading is done through Berth No: 9, Mormugao Port. The rest is through Transhipper  harboured  within the Port limits of Mormugao & Panaji Port, Manual Mid-stream loading.

Mormugao Port is a natural harbour. It may be considered a mono Port, as 85% of the cargo handled is Iron Ore. Berth No: 9 is exclusively allocated for handling Iron Ore. It is a noteworthy fact that the Goan exporters are the major contributors to the flourishing of these ports.

The Mormugao Port offers a wide range of standard facilities for pilotage, towage, lighterage, bunkering, loading, unloading, transit sheds, wharehouses, freighting, medical aid and supplies etc.  The most specialized services for ore handling are provided. Repair and service facilities are available at Goa Shipyard, Government of India Undertaking, and at other specialised private firms.

Mormugao port has a mechanical ore-handling complex. At present the limited draft at Berth No: 9, permits the loading of only Panamax size vessels. However the Cape size vessels can be up topped upto 200,000 tones or more by transhippers (loading vessels), which are owned and maintained by the exporters. The transhippers thus play a complementary role in the port's operations and help raise Mormugao port to international standards.

Panaji Port 

Panaji Port is a minor port. Loading at this port is done with the help of transhippers The congestion at Mormugao Port Trust, is thereby reduced due to the introduction of Panaji Port. The loading capacity is approximately 25000 tons per day. 

Transhippers

Since the draft available at Mormugao Port is limited, the Goan exporters have also invested in transfer vessel to uptop balance quantity, thereby enabling even larger capesize vessels to call on the Port. Currently, there are six transhippers operating within the Goan coast, namely :

(a) Maratha Deep
(b) Swati Rani
(c) Priyamvada
(d) Sunrise
(e) Orissa
(f) Satisha
(g) Goan Pride

Due to these transhippers, vessels of more than 200,000 DWT can be easily loaded at an average output of around 20,000 ~ 25,000 tons/day per transhipper. Goa is,thereby able to export an average of 15 million tons due to the complimentary services provided by these transhippers. On an average, around 35 ~ 40% of the total exports from Goa is loaded by transhippers. The Largest Iron Ore Vessel that has called in Goan Ports is M.V.Alster Cove, which was 300,000 DWT.