Syamaprasad Mookerjee Port will start night navigation for small vessels from August

Syamaprasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata will begin night navigation operations for small vessels from August this year, while ship-to-ship (lighter) operations have helped the port overcome challenges related to shallow draft, leading to the increase in trans – cargo.

Speaking at a press conference, Port Chairman PL Haranadh said that because Kolkata port is dependent on the tides, it is not open to ships all day, unlike other major ports which are open to ships 24 hours a day are open.

“However, by August 2023 we will begin night navigation systems for small vessels, which can then enter the port at night for cargo operations. The facility will soon be extended to all ships by March 2024,” he said.

The night navigation facility includes satellite-based virtual buoys that guide ships between Sagar Island and Kidderpore Dock at night. A team from the port of Calcutta visited the port of Antwerp in Belgium, where such a facility operates, as this port is also an inland port. Kolkata Port also involved IIT Chennai in the project as a consultant. Once implemented, the facility is expected to increase ship call capacity.

In addition, the chairman said the port was finally able to essentially overcome its design problem. He said: “The biggest limitation for Kolkata and Haldia is the shallow draft of around 7.3m to 8.5m, which allows only small ships to enter the port. Today, however, large ships are in demand as more cargo can be transported in a single ship, reducing logistics costs.”