Aditya (boat)

History
India
NameAditya
OwnerKerala State Water Transport Department
OperatorKerala State Water Transport Department
Port of registryKodungallur
RouteVaikom – Thavanakkadavu
BuilderNavalt Solar and Electric Boats, Kochi, India
Cost₹2 Crores
Yard numberY-09
Launched9 November 2016
CompletedNovember 2016
In service12 January 2017
StatusIn service
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeIndian Register of Shipping IRS +IW ZONE 3 FERRY
Displacement23 tonnes
Length21 m
Beam7 m
Height3.7 m
Draught0.95 m
Depth1.75 m
DecksSingle
Installed power2 × 9 kW (cruise) 2 × 20 kW (max)
Propulsion2 Permanent magnet asynchronous electrical motors – 20 kW each (max) @ 700 rpm
Speed
  • 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) (max)
  • 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) (cruising)
Capacity75 passengers
Crew3
ADITYA solar boat

Aditya is a solar-powered ferry operating between Vaikkom and Thavanakkadavu[2] in the Indian state of Kerala.[2][3] The boat was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan and Central Cabinet Minister for Power, Renewable Energy, Sri. Piyush Goyal on 12 January 2017.[4]

It is India's first solar-powered ferry[3][5] and was the largest solar-powered boat in India until Indra_(boat) was launched in 2023[6][7] The vessel was designed and built by Navalt Solar and Electric Boats[8] in Kochi, India. Navalt is a technology joint venture firm between Navgathi Marine Design and Constructions,[9] Alternative Energies[10] (France) and EVE Systems[11] (France).

In August 2020, MarineLink reported that by the end of the year the Kerala state would replace the three diesel ferries operating the same route with solar ones, mentioning that Aditya costs about US$79 per month compared to US$2867 for diesel-powered ones.[12] In three years the Aditya has saved more than 100,000 liters of diesel.[12] The State Water Transport Department of the Government of Kerala also decided to replace all of its 48 diesel ferries with solar ones.[12]

  1. ^ "Technical Data Sheet". NavAlt. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b "India's first solar boat launched in Kochi". DeccanChronicle.com. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b "First solar ferry ride a success". Deccan Chronicle. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Kerala Govt. Commissions India's First Solar-Powered Boat, Paves the Way for a Greener Tomorrow". The Better India. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  5. ^ "ADITYA, India's first solar powered ferry". Significant Small Ships of 2017: 6–8.
  6. ^ "SWTD launches 'India's largest solar-electric ferry'". The Hindu. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Kerala company builds country's largest solar ferry". timesofindia-economictimes. 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. ^ NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats
  9. ^ Navgathi Marine Design and Constructions
  10. ^ Alternative Energies
  11. ^ EVE Systems