The government on Friday said maiden consignment of six metro coaches made in India were shipped to Australia from Mumbai port.

"The maiden consignment of six metro coaches built in Baroda for export to the Australian government were shipped from Mumbai Port," a statement from Ministry of Shipping said.

This is the first shipment of the planned 450 coaches that will be exported to Australia over two-and-a-half year period.

"Mumbai Port holds supremacy in handling of over-sized precious cargo," the statement said.

The coaches are 75 feet long and weigh 46 tonnes each, requiring a superior and highly specialised loading operation with a high degree of precision, it added.

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"The entire stevedoring operation (loading into ship) of these prestigious over-sized metro coaches has been done in-house by Mumbai Port Trust unlike any other port in India where private operators carry out such operations," the statement said.