Kolkata: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port of Kolkata (SMPK) launched a night voyage upstream of the Hooghly River (from Budge Budge to the sea), a key development designed to reduce turn times and pre-capture vessels.
“The successful introduction of night navigation in the upper reaches of the Hooghly River is a testament to the scientific and technological approach adopted by the port. It will significantly improve operational efficiency and turnover time, paving the way for enhanced trade across the board,” said SMPK Chairman Rathendra Raman.
He added: “As the pilots and continuous technological upgrades further adapt, we look forward to providing nighttime navigation for larger vessels with deeper drafts, ultimately turning SMPK into a more agile and ready port in the future.”
During the first run in the early morning this morning, we saw the successful transit of container container MV Sinarpenida, with a total length of 117 meters and a draft of 6 meters, and the cargo volume from Budge Budge to the sea was 8000 MT throughout the darkness. This successful transit marks the beginning of a new era of navigation on Hooghly.
Historically, the long and winding 232-km river channel (KDS) from sea to Kolkata Terminal System (KDS) poses a major challenge to continuous vessel movement, characterized by navigation depth and strong cross-tide limits. The absence of night sailing between the southern 24 Parganas and the Diamond Harbour of Kolkata is a long-term obstacle to optimal maritime operations.
Leveraging modern electronic aids, such as electronic charts and navigation simulators, and with significant improvements to navigation infrastructure, including track lights, transit lights and illuminated channel buoys, SMPK now enables seamless night containers through river access.
The National Center for Technology Ports, Waterways and Coastal Technology and the Antwerp Antwerp A Navigational Simulator, jointly installed by IIT Madras and Ari, have prepared a comprehensive research and roadmap that is currently operating in support of pilot training and real-time scenario analysis.
With the introduction of night navigation, the port is expected to witness a significant increase in the number of vessels that can be processed every day, greatly improving berth availability and port throughput.
The ability to operate around the clock will allow access to adequate channels, promote faster vessel turnover and directly affect key key performance indicators such as temporary delays, berth occupancy and ship daily productivity.
Samrat Rahi, chairman of SMPK, said this strategic enhancement is expected to make SMPK a more attractive and competitive hub for global transportation lines. The introduction of night navigation is expected to greatly reduce ship turnover time, alleviate river traffic congestion and improve overall port efficiency.
