INDIA’S FIRST SOLAR-POWERED CRUISE BOAT

About:

• Bodies involved: The initiative comes from the Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD). It earlier launched Aditya, India’s first solar-powered ferry in 2016 in the Vaikom-Thavanakadavu route which has proved to be a success.
  
  
• Features:
  • The ₹3-crore cruise boat that can carry 100 passengers is under construction at a boatyard in Aroor.
    
    
  • The hybrid vessel will be powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, battery, and generator. Its battery will have 80 KWh (kilowatt hour) power backup, as compared to 50 KWh backup in Aditya.
    
    
  • The double-deck, double-engine catamaran-type vessel adheres to norms specified by the Indian Registry of Shipping (IRS).
    
    
  
  
  
• Application: The vessel will have an air-conditioned lower deck and pushback seats. The upper deck, which is non-air conditioned, can be used for dining and to get a better view of the backwaters.
  
  
• Benefits: Aditya incurs an energy expense of ₹200 a day, as compared to the approximately ₹8,000 needed for diesel-powered ferries. Solar vessels also do not create air and noise pollution.
  
  
• Way ahead: Considering the huge savings in energy expenses, the SWTD has also drawn up plans to introduce three sister vessels of Aditya by the end of the year.