PROJECT REPORT

OF

FERRY SERVICES IN GUJARAT

PROJECT ANALYSIS FOR TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS

FOR CARRYING GOODS, VEHILCES AND PASSENGERS

THE GUJARAT MARITIME BOARD

Gujarat is one of the most pioneering, future looking and entrepreneurial States in

India. In particular, Gujarat’s maritime sector is considered to be the most

proactive and well developed sectors of India. During the year 2009-10, these ports

handled about 206 million tonnes of cargo, which accounted for 80 per cent of the

total cargo handled by all the minor ports of India.

The State of Gujarat has a 1600 Km long coastline (nearly 1/3rd of India total

coastline). GMB innovative strategic initiatives, the proactive measures taken by

the Government and above all a competent and channeled guidance provided by its

regulatory body have pushed the State of Gujarat to the forefront of maritime

India. GMB was constituted in 1982 under the Gujarat Maritime Board Act, 1981,

to manage, control and administer the intermediate and minor ports in the state of

Gujarat. Along the coastline of Gujarat, there are 11 intermediate ports and 29

minor ports under administrative control of GMB. The States Port Policy

Statement of December 1995 spelled out an explicit strategy of port-led

development, including the creation of 10 completely new, world-class ports, in

which private-sector participation played a dominant role.

As per the Port policy of coastal shipping there is express provision for the

development of Ro-Ro ferry service, the relevant extract of which is given below:

Introduction of Ro-Ro service and hovercraft/catamaran service, joining different

terminals on Saurashtra and Kutch coast with South Gujarat will be given highest

priority. This will not only save the cost and time of transportation of men and

material from one place to another, but will substantially reduce the pressure on the

existing roads and rail network of the country. The terminal facilities within the

State of Gujarat will be created by Gujarat Maritime Board at its own cost and a

service charge will be collected from the operators. Dahej – Gogha passenger

terminal facilities will be started on a top priority basis.

Gujarat is witnessing promising growth, which is reflected in the increase in

demand for infrastructure and services across the entire area. Coastal water

transport is an eco-friendly, cost effective, and fuel efficient mode of transport with

huge potential for employment generation.

GMB has contracted on an EPC basis to build the Ro-Ro ferry terminals and

berthing facilities at the Dahej and Gogha sites and this work has already

commenced.

GMB is also awarding a contract for dredging of areas near the berthing facilities

and the approach channel at both Gogha and Dahej terminals for a draft of 5

meters.

OBJECT

The principal objective of this project is to facilitate the establishment of a

vehicular and passenger ferry service across the Gulf of Cambay. The terminals

will provide berth accommodation for ferries, facilities for loading & unloading of

vehicles & pedestrians and onshore terminal and administration facilities. The

Ferry services will be operated between the two terminals by a private sector

company or companies. The facilities are being built to provide flexibility,

wherever practical and economical, to enable use by a wide range of vessels and

equipment. It is anticipated that the Ro-Ro berths will be used from time to time by

combination of freight only and passenger handling Ro-Ro vessels. Smaller

passenger ferries can also be accommodated at a separate berth.

The two initial terminals are Gogha on the West of the gulf and Dahej on the East.

These terminals are in the process of being constructed for this ferry service. Each

will have one RoRo berth and one small passenger ferry berth.

As the owner of the ports at Gogha and Dahej, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB),

desires to set up a Ro-Ro Ferry service and proposes to issue a Global Tender and

to enter into a suitable agreement with ferry operator(s) to operate the service.

GMB has appointed a Project Management Consultancy (The PMC Consultant) to

assist in this Endeavour. Beckett Rankine Limited (London & Mumbai) in

association with The Maritime Group (International) Limited (London & Mumbai)

and Avalon Global Research of Mumbai will provide the PMC services.

The potential ferry operators will be required to provide a suitable number of ferry

vessels of the appropriate type and size that will be dedicated to this service.

Consideration will have to be given to all relevant factors in arriving at their

selection of vessels.

There will be two ferry services to consider, each with their own dedicated single

berths at Gogha and Dahej. The Ro-Ro service will be operated by vessels carrying

trucks, cars and other vehicles as well as passengers. The passenger ferry service

will be operated by small dedicated passenger carrying vessels, such as high speed

catamarans.

All vessels will have to be suitable for operation in dedicated manner on the Gogha

– Dahej route, as indicated by the crossing route shown in the figure below. The

distance between Gogha and Dahej is around 32km.

WHY A FERRY SERVICE?

Due to its particular geographical configuration, the area around the Gulf of

Cambay would benefit from the operation of a RoRo ferry service. A ferry network

will speed up travel between Saurashtra and south Gujarat with a reduction in

distance for journeys around the gulf. This is in line with the Port policy

announced by the state government of Gujarat. The circuitous road distance around

the gulf between the proposed terminals of Gogha and Dahej is about 360 Km. The

sea distance between terminals is approximately 32 km.

GMB has periodically commissioned traffic studies in and around the area of Gulf

of Cambay. These studies have shown that there is significant amount of both

passenger and vehicular traffic all year round originating from the hinterland of

both Gogha and Dahej and going around Gulf of Cambay.

The latest traffic information will be provided to all those bidding for the ferry

service. It is expected that bidders will make use of this information besides

making their own investigations, as they find necessary. The bidders will be

expected to predict for themselves the likely type and level of vehicular and

passenger numbers for this service.

DAHEJ

The Terminal

A terminal at Dahej is in the process of being constructed for this ferry service, it

will have one Ro-Ro berth and one small passenger ferry berth.

The Site

The Dahej terminal is located at approximately Latitude 21°39.8′N and Longitude

72°33.8′E. The terminal is on the northern shore of the Narmada estuary some 6

km from the town of Dahej.

Connections

Road – Modern four lane roads at Dahej have been developed which connect the

proposed ferry terminal to all important state highways as well as national highway

No 8.

Rail – Dahej is connected with broad gauge rail linkage to main line (Mumbai-

Delhi Rail corridor) crossing at Bharuch Jaunction. The railway station is some 2.5

Km from the terminal.

Air – The nearest airport facility for Dahej is at Vadodara which is approximately

120 Km from Dahej.

GOGHA

The Terminal

A terminal at Gogha is in the process of being constructed for this ferry service, it

will have one RoRo berth and one small passenger ferry berth.

The Site

Gogha is located about 20 km to the South of Bhavnagar on the western coast of

the Gulf of Cambay almost opposite to Dahej. The terminal site is just to the south

of the town of Gogha on the north-west coast of India approximately at Latitude

21°40.6′N, Longitude 72°17.1′E.

Connections

Road – Gogha terminal is already connected with state highway and new modern

four lane road will be constructed by the Government of Gujarat to connect it with

the nearby national highway.

Rail – Broad gauge linkage for Gogha terminal is available up to Bhavnagar which

is 20 Km from Gogha.

Air – The nearest airport facility for Gogha is at Bhavnagar.

BENEFITS:

COMPARISION

SR.NO. CONTAINER RO-RO FERRY

1. COMPLICATED SIMPLE

2. EXPENSIVE CHEAP

3. EXTRA CHARGES/OVER-HEAD

CHARGES

NO EXTRA CHARGES

FOR ROLL-ON AND

ROLL-OFF

4. TIME-CONSUMING LESS TIME

CONSUMING

5. HIGHER RISK OF DAMAGES LESS CHANCE FOR

DAMAGES

A BRIEF ANALYSIS

The ferry distance between Dahej and Ghogha two terminals will be 17 nautical

miles or 32 km. Total distance by road between Bharuch and Bhavnagar via

Vadodara, Borsad, Tarapur and Vataman is 340 km which takes 7 hours and 10

minutes. Compare to this the journey between Bharuch and Bhavangar through

Dahej-Ghogha ferry service will take 2 hours and 30 minutes in ideal condition.

This includes 43 km/45 minutes journey from Bharuch to Dahej, 30 km/1 hour and

30 minutes journey from Dahej to Ghogha by sea, and 25 km/25 minutes journey

from Ghogha to Bhavnagar.

Relevant traffic moving eastbound via Bagodara relevant to Ghogha terminal was

1350 vehicles/day while non Bagodara traffic was 936 vehicles day as per the

Beckett Rankine survey. Relevant traffic moving westbound via Vataman relevant

to Dahej terminal was 2379 vehicles per day as per the same survey. Relevant

traffic for Ro-Ro project as per this survey which was done in November 2008 was

1059 cars, 122 government buses, 655 private buses, 367 light commercial

vehicles, 2018 trucks and 444 multi- exl vehicles per day. Potential traffic volume

at Ghogha and Dahej each terminal was figured out at 600 vehicles per day. Of

them 60% trucks, 10% buses and 30% cars.

Ropax ferry type vessel with carrying capacity of 500 passengers and 100-150

vehicles needs maximum draft of 4.50 m while service speed would be 22 knots(40

km/hour). Total sailing time would be 90 minutes, while birthing and un-berthing

would take 10 minutes. Loading/uploading time would be 40 minutes. Turnaround

time would be 280 minutes. Making this simple, suppose you are at Ghogha, then

de-berthing of passengers from Dahej would take 5 minutes, loading/unloading of

vehicles would take 40 minutes, and berthing would take 5 minutes. Then the ferry

would take 90 minutes to reach Dahej, where again your de-berthing would take 5

minutes, loading/unloading 40 minutes, and berthing of new passengers from

Dahej would take another 5 minutes.

If there’s a volume of 600 vehicles per day, and vehicle carrying capacity is 100

vehicles, the vessel can have 6 departures per day. Similarly for 120 vehicles, 5

departures and for 150 vehicles there can be 4 departures per day. GMB has

decided to opt for 150 vehicles per trip and four departures per day.

Gujarat Maritime Board has planned few other ro-ro ferry projects for future. The

list includes Mumbai-Porbandar, Mumbai-Ghogha, Mumbai-Dahej, Mumbai

Hazira, Mumbai-Pipavav, Hazira-Pipavav, Pipavav-Porbandar, Porbandar-Okha

and Okha-Mundra.

The project that would connect south Gujarat and Saurasthra regions of the state

through the Gulf of Cambay is being developed by the Gujarat Maritime Board

(GMB).

The RO-RO ferry service between Gogha and Dahej, once operational, would

considerably bring down the time and cost of transportation in the region besides

reducing pressure on the existing road and rail network. It would also help promote

tourism, linking places of historical, religious and tourist interests located in Kutch

and Saurashtra with south Gujarat. The circuitous road distance around the gulf

between the terminals of Gogha and Dahej is about 360 km. The sea distance

between the terminals, on the other hand, is approximately 32 km.

Dahej lies on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Cambay, just north of the Narmada

river estuary and almost opposite Gogha. The Dahej terminal is 45 km. from

Bharuch and well connected by a broad gauge rail link. Bharuch, a district

headquarter, is located on NH 8 connecting Mumbai to the cities of Vadodara and

Ahmedabad. It is also an important junction on the Mumbai -Delhi rail and road

trunk route. Gogha lies on the western coast of the Gulf of Cambay where the

distance across the Gulf between the shores of Saurashtra and south Gujarat is the

least. Bhavnagar, a district headquarter, is 20 km. away.

ABOUT THE GHOGHA – DAHEJ PROJECT

The Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry service project in Gujarat is a maritime miracle of

India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who laid its foundation stone on the eve of

Republic Day in 2012 has been personally interested in its realization. This is

evident from the speech he made as the chief minister of Gujarat, holding the ports

portfolio at that ti me in which he said though he had been hearing about the

project since his childhood, its realization was seen now after 40 to 45 years.

The ambitious and unique project for India, particularly for Gujarat involves

constructions of two terminals at two opposite coasts in the Gulf of Cambay to run

a RO-RO-Pax vessel service between Ghogha near Bhavnagar in Saurashtra region

and Dahej in South Gujarat where the sea distance is just 32 km.

Dahej which is also these days much in the news because of newly developed

modern port is on the eastern coast of Gulf of Cambay, close to the Narmada river

estuary, while Ghogha is on the western coast of Gulf of Cambay exactly opposite

Dahej.So, if one wants to go to these two places by road, one has to travel a very

long circuitous route involving a road travel of 360 km.

The constructions of two terminals at Dahej and Ghogha is very difficult and is

considered an engineering marvel as not only the sea remains choppy but tide is

more than 7 meters, the second highest in the world. What is being constructed

here is most complex marine structures likes of which had never been undertaken

in the country. Though the only- of- its kind Rs.296-crore facility in the country is

being created by the Gujarat Maritime Board, it will be run by private operators.

The project as per original schedule was to be completed within 15 months, it is,

unfortunately, seeing only delays and delays as so far-three years-only 49 percent

work has been completed. The construction contract which also includes

engineering and procurement has been given to the Essar Project(India)Limited

and it has cited technical constraints as reason for its working on a snail’s pace in

completing two terminals at Ghogha and Dahej.

Highly placed sources told Sagar Sandesh that though Essar had promised

completion of work by this year end, they are not hopeful.’How they can complete

remaining 50 per cent work in 10 months ?This is not possible.We feel the

completion will still take four to five years and construction cost would go upto

Rs.500 cr.”

The project site at Ghogha was visited by new union shipping secretary Rajiv

Kumar during his recent visit to Gujarat.In an exclusive interview with SS at the

Bhuj airport though he described his visit for familiarization of Gujarat port

projects,sources in the Gujarat govt said that he had specially visited Ghogha on

instructions from the PMO as it was the PM’s ambitious project.To a query, Kumar

did said that the ferry service project was unique in that it was difficult to

undertake project in a choppy sea where tide rose to 7 meters.

Though the completion of construction work of the two terminals might take a long

time as is being feared looking to the slow pace of the work,GMB has already

initiated process for selecting operators to run the ferry service.’We had invited

global tenders for RFQ (Request for qualification)and RFP(request for proposal)

and have now sorted out two parties.The next step would be for prize bid ‘a govt

source said.The RO-Pax operations under the concession agreement includes

procurement,leasing,chartering and deployment and operation of Ro-Pax vessels

between the two terminals.The selected operator would be allowed to decide tariff

for carrying passengers and wheeled cargo.The license would be for a period of ten

years and would be extended by 5 years more at the discretion of GMB.

RORO VEHICLE SHIPPING

Today sea transportation is the most common as well as the cheapest way to ship a

vehicle internationally. You might have observed an example of this kind of car

transportation on a ferry when cars are driven inside a special deck at one terminal

and then driven off the ferry at the other. In international logistics similar process

is called “RoRo” shipping.

How does it work?

“RoRo” stands for “Roll on/ Roll off” which basically describes the transportation

procedure: vehicles are rolled up the ramp onto a large vehicle carrying vessel,

braced and tied down on a specially designed enclosed deck during the

transportation and then rolled of at the destination port. This type of car shipping

was developed in Japan specifically for exporting large amount cars from its

manufactures to Europe and the USA.

Such vessels can fit from 400 to 1000 cars on average and larger ships have

enough capacity for transporting up to 6000 cars. The entire loading process and

Port-to-Port transportation is handled by port workers and sea line employees, so

your vehicle is all taken care of the moment you leave it at the origin terminal and

until you pick it up at the destination point.

What types of vehicles can I ship?

Even though RoRo was originally designed for shipping cars, today this service is

also offered to all kinds of motorized vehicles: motorcycles, ATVs, boats, RVs and

even heavy duty machinery (like cranes, tractors, excavators etc.).

Most RoRo ships have segregated decks in order to transport different types of

vehicles separately so that a classy Harley is not loaded together with farm

machinery.

Inoperable vehicles are also accepted by RoRo transporters as long as they can roll,

steer and have good brakes. However, there will be an extra charge of around $300

as special equipment will be required to load your vehicle on and off the ship.

Major Ro-Ro international ports

There are several big US ports that have been providing RoRo shipping for many

years

East coast New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Brunswick,

Jacksonville

West coast Los Angeles, Tacoma

South Galveston

If the vehicle you are looking to ship abroad is located far from any of the above

mentioned cities, you can hire automobile shipping service to transport your

vehicle from your front door to one of the ports or the other way around.

Benefits of Ro-Ro shipping

Shipping a car overseas using RoRo service has become the most popular type of

transportation for a good reason. Comparing to container shipping, RoRo has the

following advantages:

It’s cheaper. The process of loading vehicles on and off a RoRo ship is not

as time and resource consuming as building a container around every single

car.

It’s easier to ship multiple vehicles. If you need to relocate several vehicles

at once, it would be more pricey to get a container for each car while in

RoRo they are all loaded and transported together on a deck.

Allow bigger capacity to fit large and oversized vehicles. Decks on RoRo

ships are much more flexible with vehicle dimensions than containers, which

allows to ship large vehicles. For oversized loads, some ships even have

movable decks which can raise and lower depending on the vehicle height.

Save fuel, wear-tear of vehicles and reduction in pollution.

Reduction in harassment from various departments, toll-amount and traffic

blocks.

The only drawback of RoRo shipping is that it is not as all-encompassing as

container shipping. Small countries may not even have international RO-RO

transport facilities.

CURRENT LOCATION WHERE RO-RO SERVICES ARE OPERATING

IN INDIA:

1. KONKAN RAILWAY

2. MUMBAI

3. MANGALURU PORT TRUST

FUTURE EXPANSION

While ferries will start by linking the two initial terminals, it is expected that there

will be later additions to the service with destinations including Mumbai. Further

expansion will eventually develop routes serving destinations further south in India

with the possibility of international routes to the Gulf States to the west.