Enhancing Navigational Safety and Sustainability in Kerala's National Waterway 3: Integrating Hydrographic Insights and Advanced Vessel Design

Abstract

Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) is increasingly acknowledged as a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional road and rail transport, offering substantial advantages in terms of lower emissions, reduced fuel consumption, and cost-effectiveness. However, its potential remains largely untapped in regions like India’s National Waterway 3 (NW-3) because of sedimentation, suboptimal vessel design, and infrastructure constraints.

This study investigates the 82-kilometre Alleppey–Kollam stretch of NW-3 in Kerala, integrating hydrographic survey data with vessel design optimization and advanced materials to develop a comprehensive strategy for sustainable inland navigation. Bathymetric analysis identified 11 critical depth bottlenecks (depth < 2.5 m), with 68% occurring near bridge crossings. Vessel assessment indicates that modern Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP) crafts, particularly solar-electric ferries, offer a 30–40% reduction in weight and are capable of operating safely at shallow drafts of approximately 0.6 m—well suited to the constrained sections of NW-3.

The adoption of solar-electric boats not only enhances navigability in shallow waters but also significantly contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing emissions and noise pollution, thereby addressing the rising traffic intensity and ecological concerns associated with conventional diesel-powered vessels.