Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (IANS): Odisha's Gopalpur Port has received its first ever capesize vessel carrying 105,000 tonnes of limestone, said an official on Monday.

With this, Gopalpur Port now joins the list of select ports in India that can handle capesize vessels.

JSPL, one of Gopalpur Ports' key customers, imported 105,000 tonnes of steel grade limestone from the Middle-East in a ship owned by Essar Shipping.

Gopalpur Port is undertaking an expansion program, which amongst other things entailed dredging of the channel to enable it to receive large ships, the official said.

With the completion of dredging, the port is capable of receiving modern, large sized ships that can cater to the needs of its customers.

"We are very proud to have successfully handled a vessel carting 105,000 tonnes on October 12. In a short time, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group has made significant progress in making Gopalpur Port a world-class port," said Amit Saboo, Managing Director of Shapoorji Pallonji Port Maintenance Pvt Ltd.

Presently, the port handles cargo with three berths. The port aims to increase its capacity to 55 million tonnes per annum by 2025, said sources.