Kolkata, February 26 The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) announced on Thursday that it had, for the first time in its 155-year history, conducted nighttime navigation in the upper reaches of the Hooghly River, a move expected to reduce vessel turnaround time and improve overall port productivity.
"Upper Reaches" refers to the upstream stretch of a river closer to the inland port, and in this case, the segment of the Hooghly River between Diamond Harbour and Kolkata.
The Kolkata Port stated that its experienced pilots safely navigated the container vessel Sinar Pangalam Susu on its inward voyage through the narrow channel of the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) during the hours of darkness on the night of February 25, according to a statement.
The SMPA said that the successful nighttime transit followed a trial movement undertaken on May 2, 2025, with the outward-bound container vessel Sinar Penida, which laid the groundwork for 24-hour navigation.
The inbound vessel, with an overall length of 128 meters and a draft of 6.1 meters, completed the transit under challenging navigational conditions, marking the maiden operational use of nighttime navigation in the Upper Reaches.
The stretch of the Hooghly River from Diamond Harbour to Kolkata, spanning approximately 40 nautical miles, is considered one of the most challenging riverine routes due to its narrow channel, shifting sandbanks, frequent crossings, and strong crosscurrents. Traditionally, pilotage in this sector was restricted to daylight hours.
Chairman Rathendra Raman said that this achievement marks a significant step towards enabling 24x7 vessel movement in the river system and reflects the port's commitment to technological advancement and operational preparedness.
Port officials said that the introduction of nighttime navigation in the Upper Reaches is expected to optimize berth utilization, ease vessel congestion, and improve cargo handling efficiency at the KDS, strengthening Kolkata's position as India's premier river port.