Kolkata, May 3 || Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), commenced night navigation in the upper reaches of the River Hooghly, from Budge Budge to the sea on Saturday, an official said.
A senior SMPK official said that this crucial step will reduce turnaround time and pre-berthing detention of vessels calling on the Kolkata Dock System (KDS).
He said that the long and meandering 232-km river channel from the sea to KDS, marked by restrictions in navigable depth and strong cross-tidal currents, posed a significant challenge for continuous vessel movement.
“Though high tides result in an increase in draft twice a day, SMPK is unable to make full use of this due to the absence of night navigation between Diamond Harbour and Kolkata,” he added.
He said that leveraging modern electronic aids like electronic charts and navigational simulators, and backed by significant improvements in navigational infrastructure - including track lights, transit lights and illuminated channel buoys - SMPK has now enabled seamless nighttime vessel transit through the river channel.
“The National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, prepared a comprehensive study and roadmap for night navigation in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp. A navigational simulator, jointly installed by IIT Madras and ARI, is now operational to support pilot training and real-time scenario analysis,” said a senior SMPK official.