Kolkata Port has introduced a cutting-edge Navigational Simulator to enhance the training of pilots and maritime professionals, aiming to improve their skills and efficiency in navigating the challenging River Hooghly. The simulator, inaugurated by SMPK chairman Rathendra Raman, was developed at a cost of Rs 60 lakhs by Applied Research International (ARI) with guidance from IIT Madras and SMPK officials. This new facility will provide realistic training for pilots, masters, and maritime professionals, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in handling vessels under challenging conditions without the need to board actual ships.
The simulator is specifically designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, with a focus on night navigation on the River Hooghly, which presents unique challenges. Raman highlighted that the facility will make pilots more confident and skilled in managing complex river scenarios, ultimately supporting research and development in port operations and vessel movement optimization. Additionally, the simulator will shorten training time for new pilots, improve decision-making skills, and help trainees navigate SMPK’s complex river conditions, including tides and congested channels.
SMPK, India’s only riverine major port, oversees a 232-km navigational channel, one of the longest in the world, which is fraught with natural obstacles like bars, bends, and bores. The introduction of the new simulator marks a significant step towards ensuring safer and more efficient maritime operations. By providing realistic training scenarios and hands-on experience, the simulator will play a crucial role in enhancing the skills and capabilities of pilots and maritime professionals navigating the challenging River Hooghly.
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