Kolkata’s Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) has launched night navigation for vessels on the upper stretches of the River Hooghly, marking a major step towards boosting operational efficiency and trade throughput.
The initiative, introduced from Budge Budge to the sea, is expected to significantly reduce turnaround time and pre-berthing detention at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS). The 232-kilometre-long Hooghly channel poses unique navigational challenges due to its narrow, meandering path and strong tidal currents. Until now, limited visibility and infrastructure had restricted nighttime vessel movement, even during favourable tidal conditions. Backed by modern electronic aids such as electronic charts, illuminated channel buoys, and navigational simulators, SMPK has now made round-the-clock transit possible. The technology upgrade is supported by a roadmap from the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras, in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp. A navigational simulator installed jointly by IIT Madras and ARI is already in use to train pilots and simulate real-time navigation scenarios.
In the early hours of Saturday, the container vessel M V Sinar Penida successfully completed the inaugural night transit from Budge Budge to the sea. The 117-metre-long vessel, with a draught of 6 metres, carried 8,000 tons of cargo in complete darkness—an operation previously considered too risky. Rathendra Raman, Chairperson of SMPK, hailed the milestone as a historic moment. “This achievement reflects the scientific and technological strides we’ve taken. It will not only improve port efficiency but also lay the foundation for handling larger, deeper-draft vessels in the future,” he said. Samrat Rahi, Deputy Chairperson of SMPK, noted that the port’s handling capacity will rise significantly with the advent of night navigation. “We expect marked improvements in berth availability, ship-day productivity, and key performance indicators like berth occupancy and pre-berthing delays,” he said.
The move positions SMPK as a more competitive maritime hub, capable of attracting global shipping lines and sustaining higher trade volumes.
