LaycanDeskIndonesia to India coal freight - Sumatra and Kalimantan anchorages to Hazira, Krishnapatnam and Paradip
Thermal coal loaded by barge at Sumatra and Kalimantan anchorages into the Indian west and east coasts on Supramax and Panamax tonnage. Meulaboh and the Sumatra anchorages, Taboneo, Muara Berau and the Kalimantan anchorages to Hazira, Bhavnagar, Krishnapatnam and Paradip: thermal coal in 50,000 to 75,000 tonne cargoes loaded by barge and floating crane, fixed on the loading rate and the number of barges the shipper provides.
Indonesia exported about 391 million tonnes of coal in 2025 (UN Comtrade), and India is its largest customer after China. Almost none of it loads alongside: the trade runs from anchorages off Sumatra, at Meulaboh and Muara Sabak, and off Kalimantan, at Taboneo, Muara Berau and Muara Pantai, where 300-foot barges bring the cargo from river jetties and the ship loads by her own grabs or by floating crane at 10,000 to 25,000 tonnes a day depending on how many barges the shipper runs. Supramaxes and Ultramaxes of 50,000 to 65,000 dwt carry the Hazira and Bhavnagar stems on the west coast, where draft at the anchorages and the tidal berths limit the lift; Panamaxes of 65,000 to 82,000 dwt serve Krishnapatnam and Paradip on the east coast, which take a full cargo at 14 metres or more. The passage is ten to fourteen days to the west coast. Loading slows in the rainy months from November to March, when swell at the anchorages stops barge work.
A coal stem goes to owners once four things are settled: the mine and the shipper of record, the anchorage and its loading arrangement with the number of barges or cranes, the discharge port with its draft on the laycan, and the IMSBC group with the moisture certificates that decide whether the cargo is Group A. Charterers send those with the quantity and tolerance, the load and discharge rates, the laytime terms, the laycan, the commission and the charterer's name; without the mine and the charterer the stem waits. Owners with Supramax, Ultramax and Panamax tonnage opening in Southeast Asia, the Bay of Bengal or the west coast of India send positions, and the desk holds them against the coal stems on the board; the 13 September sweep sighted 13 hulls at Meulaboh and 53 at Hazira. Every counterparty and ship is screened before an offer. We work by email.
Load ports
- Meulaboh and Muara Sabak anchorages (Sumatra)
- Taboneo and Muara Berau anchorages (South and East Kalimantan)
- Muara Pantai and Asam Asam (Kalimantan)
- All by barge and floating crane, ship's grabs or shore-supplied cranes
Discharge ports
- Hazira (Gujarat, west coast)
- Bhavnagar and Kandla (tidal, draft-limited)
- Krishnapatnam and Vizag (east coast, deep water)
- Paradip and Haldia
Typical parcels
- Supramax and Ultramax 50,000–60,000 t to the west coast
- Panamax and Kamsarmax 65,000–80,000 t to the east coast
- Loading 10,000–25,000 t/day by barge
- Indonesia exported about 391 Mt of coal in 2025 (UN Comtrade)
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
Questions charterers and owners ask
How is coal loaded at Indonesian anchorages?
By barge. Coal comes down river on 300-foot barges to the anchorage, and the ship loads it with her own grabs or with a floating crane the shipper provides. Rates run from 10,000 to 25,000 tonnes a day depending on the number of barges, so the enquiry has to say how many barges and cranes are on the stem.
Supramax or Panamax for India?
Supramax and Ultramax for the west coast, where Hazira, Bhavnagar and Kandla are draft-limited and tidal and where the ship's gear does the discharge; Panamax and Kamsarmax for Krishnapatnam, Vizag and Paradip, which take a full 65,000 to 80,000 tonne cargo at 14 metres or more with shore grabs.
What about moisture and the IMSBC Code?
Indonesian coal can be a Group A cargo, so owners want the IMSBC schedule, the transportable moisture limit certificate and the moisture content declared before loading, together with the self-heating and methane declarations. Send them with the stem; they are asked before the ship's name goes out.
What must I send to get a named ship?
Mine and shipper of record, anchorage and loading arrangement with barge and crane numbers, quantity and tolerance, discharge port with its draft on the laycan, load and discharge rates with laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name. With those we come back with named ships and positions the same day.