The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port proposes to acquire pilot vessel

KOLKATA Port Trust proposes to acquire a pilot vessel at an estimated cost of more than Rs 10 crore and has accordingly decided to invite bids - though for the second time.

The first tender floated in the third week of October evoked little response from the prospective ship-builders, it is learnt.

The function of a pilot vessel in a river port like Kolkata is critical. It ferries river pilots, responsible for steering vessels between the Sandheads, which is the mouth of the Hooghly river, and the dock, either Kolkata Dock System or Haldia Dock Complex.

Unfortunately, the port has been going without a proper pilot vessel for the past couple of years. The earlier pilot vessels, "Sagar" and "Samudra", were scrapped a few years ago. Since then, "Anushandhani", a survey vessel, is being used as a pilot vessel. But the river pilots resent it, more so because it too has become old.

A few years ago, the port authorities felt that there was no need for a pilot vessel, which was costly to maintain. Instead, it set up a pilot station at the Sagar Island from where the pilots would board pilot launches and accordingly a few launches were acquired. Also, the computer-based vessel traffic management system (VTMS) was installed to guide the vessels to and from the Sandheads.

However, subsequent developments proved that the matter was not so simple. The construction of a permanent jetty close to the pilot station, as planned originally, was not possible on the grounds of safety and cost. It was then felt that a channel had to be cut in the sandy beach to facilitate movement of launches and accordingly a contractor was appointed for the job. Again, the exercise proved to be futile, with port authorities and the contractor now being locked in a legal dispute over payment.

So now it is back to square one. A pilot vessel has to be acquired. Depending on the response to the tender being floated for the second time, the port authorities hope to place the order by December/January and it will be another 18 to 24 months before the vessel will be ready for delivery.

Till then, the river pilots have to contend with the present arrangement.

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