The News National, Kolkata :
State-of-the-Art Navigational Simulator inaugurated at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata.
Today i.e. on 20.03.2025, Shri Rathendra Raman, Chairperson, SMPK inaugurated the State-of-the-Art Navigational Simulator at Subhas Bhavan, operational headquarter of SMPK to provide realistic, high-fidelity training for pilots, masters and other maritime professionals for equipping them with hands on-experience in handling vessels under diverse and challenging conditions even without boarding vessels. Dy. Chairperson along with Proffesor Murali K of IIT, Madras graced the occasion in presence of senior officials of SMPK
The Simulator is unique of its kind and the first one in India installed for River Pilotage. This unit will also considerably reduce the training period of newly inducted Trainee Pilots. It will enhance their decision-making skills and familiarity with SMPK’s unique navigational complexities, tidal conditions and congested channels. This will also support research and development in port operations and vessel movement optimization.
The Simulator for River Navigation has been installed at a total cost of 60 lakhs by Applied Research International (ARI) under the guidance of IIT Madras and SMPK officials assisted in the process.
Rathendra Raman, Chairperson, SMPK highlighted the long-term benefits of the simulator and state that “This facility will position SMPK as a leder in maritime training and navigation safety in the region. It is step toward ensuring safer and more efficient maritime operations. Shri Raman further stated that ‘Night Navigation on the river presents unique challenges.’ This simulator will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, enagling our pilots to train intensively and confidently manage dynamic and complex river navigation scenarios.
N.B.:- The only riverine major port of the country, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata has 232 Km. long navigational channel leading to Kolkata Dock system (KDS) is one of the longest channels in the World. The channel is plagued by Bars, Bends & Bores. Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) located on the right bank of the river at a distance of 125 Km. from the sea handles larger vessels.
The complex nature of River Hooghly & its estuary has been a challenge in the maintenance of navigational channels leading to the two docks (KDS & HDC) of SMPK.
Providing stable channels for navigation to port facilities of SMPK through the Hooghly estuary, and optimising the maintenance dredging have been two major tasks attracting continuous attention. SMPK has been striving to address these issues through constant scientific monitoring of the estuary and relentless R&D efforts in consultation with various Indian & foreign experts in the field.
