GUWAHATI: In a significant development, the Inland Waterway Authority of India achieved a major milestone with the successful movement of its third, fourth and fifth consignments of Over-Dimensional Cargo (ODC) and Over-Weight Cargo (OWC).
The consignments commenced their journey from Diamond Harbour in West Bengal on June 24, 2023, using barges as the mode of transportation.
The three barges, namely MV-Marine with Tug Focus-XII (1286 MT), MV Topaz with Gwalior (741.128 MT), and MV Torsha with Sanket (1248 MT), have navigated through the National Waterways route no. 2 via Indo Bangladesh Protocol route to reach the Bangladesh border (Dhubri) on July 19, 2023.
Of note, these consignments included five overweight cargos, adding to the complexity and scale of the operation
Previously the transportation of the first over-dimensional cargo, which was the DHT REACTOR measuring 32 meters in length and 8 meters in diameter, was carried by MV-Marine on 18th March. Additionally, on 8th June, the MV Tidal Wave transported a VGA REACTOR weighing 700 metric tons, measuring 31 meters in length and 5.6 meters in diameter.
Speaking about The Numaligarh Refinery, it was initially designed with a capacity of 3 million metric tons and has now been broadened to accommodate an impressive 9 million metric tons, making it a prominent player in the region's oil and gas industry.
The expansion project, valued at a staggering 35,000 crore, has been a testimony to engineering excellence and meticulous execution.
Speaking to the director of IWAI, A Selvakumar, he claimed that one of the critical factors enabling the smooth movement of the consignments has been the diligent dredging of the Dhansiri River, which ensured that the ships could traverse easily despite the river's lower density.
As the three consignments are set to reach their final destination in the first week of August, the project marks a significant step forward in bolstering the region's energy infrastructure and opening up new opportunities for growth and development.