Sat May 03 16:38:03 UTC 2025: **Kolkata Port Launches Night Navigation, Boosting Trade Efficiency**
KOLKATA, INDIA – May 4, 2025 – The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), has implemented night navigation capabilities for the first time in its history, significantly enhancing its operational efficiency. The initiative, launched Saturday, allows vessels to utilize high tides both day and night, increasing the port’s capacity to handle cargo.
The successful maiden nighttime transit of the container vessel MV Sinar Penida, carrying 8,000 tonnes of cargo, marked the start of the new system. This covers the stretch from Budge Budge to the Bay of Bengal.
SMPK Chairperson Rathendra Raman called the launch “historic,” emphasizing the positive impact on turnaround time and trade throughput. Chief Public Relations Officer Sanjay Mukherjee explained that the upgrade allows for the utilization of nighttime high tides, previously unavailable, leading to a greater volume of vessels and cargo handled daily.
The project was developed in collaboration with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras and the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. The new infrastructure includes upgraded lighting, illuminated buoys, and electronic aids, complemented by a navigational simulator for pilot training.
SMPK Deputy Chairperson Samrat Rahi highlighted the positive effects on decongesting the river channel and attracting more global shipping lines, strengthening Kolkata’s position as a major shipping hub.
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