Ro-Ro ferry suspended due to siltation at Dahej port

RAJKOT: Operators of the Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry will suspend the service indefinitely from Tuesday citing non-availability of adequate water depth at Dahej port.
Indigo Seaways Pvt Ltd, which runs this service, pasted a notice at Ghogha port stating that the operations have been suspended until further notice. Officials said the water depth is too low in the approach channel as well as Dahej port area. The situation is attributed to to heavy siltation in the navigation channel due to continuous discharge of water from the Sardar Sarovar dam.
“They depth is just one metre at Dahej terminal while the ferry vessel requires minimum five metre draft. The service has been suspended considering the safety of the passengers,” an official of Indigo Seaways said.
The operator claims that it runs with 80% passenger load and 75% cargo load. The ferry has a capacity of 500 passengers, 80 cars and 30 trucks.
In a statement issued on Monday, the state ports regulator Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) said: “They ferry service is suspended due to unforeseen situation at Dahej on account of continuous overflow of Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam following heavy rainfall this monsoon.” The average discharge of water from Narmada dam has been four lakh to six lakh cusecs this monsoon, resulting in heavy and unexpected siltation in navigation channel at Dahej Ro-Ro terminal. GMB had advised the operator to suspend the operation.
According to GMB, at least 3.31 lakh passengers and about 7,000 vehicles have utilized this service till August 2019.
GMB is responsible for maintaining adequate depth at both the terminals. “GMB has done maintenance dredging thrice, the last time on August 10. The next dredging is planned in first week of October to remove silt deposit after which the operations would resume.”