Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) on Thursday inaugurated the construction of 13 hybrid ferries intended to operate along the Hooghly river within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.

Keels were laid for all 13 ferries at a ceremony attended by West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty, Minister of State for Transport Dilip Mondal, Chairperson and Managing Director of GRSE Cmde. P.R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairperson of WBTIDCL Dr. Moinul Hassan, and other senior officials.

The vessels, being built for the West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTIDCL), are expected to replace ageing diesel ferries and support the State’s broader green transport initiative.

GRSE had signed a contract with the State Transport Department on November 19, 2024, for the design and construction of these ferries.

According to a statement issued by GRSE, the ferries are designed to operate in all-weather conditions across the Hooghly stretch, from Triveni in the north to Diamond Harbour in the south. The Hooghly forms part of National Waterway-1, also known as the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System.

The ferries will be equipped with hybrid electric propulsion systems, powered by both batteries and diesel generators. “The hybrid system will offer greater flexibility to the operator to switch from one mode to the other as per requirement, allowing for greater safety. The use of batteries will reduce pollution substantially,” the company said.

The vessels will be constructed using aluminium and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) and will feature a catamaran hull design for better stability and efficiency.

Six of the 13 ferries, with twin decks and air-conditioned main decks, are estimated to cost ?126 crore. Each of these 30-metre-long vessels will accommodate 200 passengers and operate at a maximum speed of 12 knots, requiring a crew of five.

The remaining seven vessels, expected to cost nearly ?100 crore, will have single decks with a 100-passenger capacity. These will be approximately 25 metres in length and 8 metres in width, with a top speed of 9 knots. Each vessel will be manned by a five-member crew.

Speaking at the ceremony, Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty said the new ferries would gradually replace older diesel-powered vessels. He also highlighted the operation of Dheu, one of India’s largest and fastest fully electric ferries, manufactured by GRSE, currently operating between Kolkata and Belur Math.

“We are proud to spearhead the green initiatives of the Government of West Bengal, and I am confident that we shall design and deliver high-quality vessels to minimise the carbon emission in the maritime sector,” Cmde. Hari said.

Source:  The Hindu

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