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Ministry of Mines | Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Intermodal Solutions Group (ISG), an Australian logistics pioneer, has expanded its “pit-to-ship” container technology into the Indian market through a strategic partnership with the Adani Group. Announced in February 2026, ISG’s solution utilizes hermetically sealed, rotating containers that prevent hazardous mineral dust from contaminating the environment during transport from mine sites to cargo ships.
While Chile currently hosts the world’s first fully automated copper-concentrate facility using this technology, India has become a key growth destination following ISG’s entry into the market in 2024. By keeping bulk goods containerized and using patented lid-lifting machinery, the technology eliminates “double handling” and product loss, setting a new global benchmark for Environmentally Sound Port Solutions in the handling of toxic concentrates, urea, and grains.
Key Pillars of the ISG–India Strategic Expansion
Environmental Containment: Using hermetically sealed containers to eliminate toxic dust emissions during the transport of bulk commodities like copper concentrate and urea.
Logistics Efficiency: Implementing the “Pit-to-Ship” model to reduce product loss and eliminate the need for open-air storage at quays and ports.
Strategic Partnership: Collaborating with the Adani Group to deploy rotating container fleets across Indian port operations.
Patented Engineering: Utilizing Australian-engineered rotating containers and lid-lifting machinery to automate the discharge of bulk goods directly into ships.
Safety & Health: Protecting worker health and surrounding coastal ecosystems from the inhalation and contamination risks of loose mineral concentrates.
What are “Environmentally Sound Port Solutions”? Environmentally Sound Port Solutions refer to integrated logistics systems designed to minimize the ecological footprint of maritime trade, particularly in the handling of hazardous bulk materials. At the core of ISG’s Indian operations is the use of sealed containers that act as “mobile storage sheds,” bypassing the need for open stockpiles that are prone to wind-blown contamination. By combining these containers with “tippler” machinery that rotates the unit 360 degrees only after a lid is lifted inside the ship’s hold, the system ensures zero product loss and prevents toxic particles from entering the air or the sea, thereby meeting the highest international standards for clean port operations.
Policy Relevance
For India, the adoption of Australian “pit-to-ship” technology represents a transition from “Open-Heap Bulk Logistics” to “Automated Sustainable Terminals,” critical for India’s aim to modernize its maritime infrastructure.
Port Modernization Standards: Integrating ISG rotating containers into Adani port operations aligns Indian bulk terminals with the world’s first automated benchmarks in Chile.
Bypassing Environmental Litigation: Using sealed transport allowed Indian port operators to bypass the legal and environmental challenges associated with dust pollution in coastal cities like Mundra and Vizag.
Operationalizing “Green Port” Guidelines: The adoption of zero-loss containers directly supports the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ “Harit Sagar” guidelines for sustainable port development.
Supply Chain Resilience: Minimizing product loss in urea and mineral transport ensures that India’s critical agricultural and industrial inputs are managed with maximum “Implementation Fidelity”.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India’s mining and port authorities mainstream sealed logistics systems across major mineral corridors to improve export efficiency, occupational safety, and environmental compliance?
Follow the full update here: Austrade: High-tech Australian containers trigger global revolution