The Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Port Kolkata is India’s oldest port with over 150 years of rich history. Every vessel approaching the Port needs Maritime Pilots to navigate over 272 Kms riverine channel to reach Kolkata. For the last 18 years, the Pilots have been using a 400m long bamboo jetty to board pilot launches to embark on incoming and outgoing vessels. The Floating Pilot Vessel, MV Maa Ganga is an expensive affair due to her age and cost of maintenance. ITUS has deployed MV Arice, the World’s First Amphibious Pilot Boat to transfer Pilots from Shore to Ship. The project commenced irrespective of COVID 19 has led to operations of over 500 hrs and over 300 safe and successful transfers of Pilots. The project in its next phase will bring in System 100 Pilot Boats which shall be custom-made and manufactured for the purpose of Pilot Operations of SMP, Kolkata.
