Author: Kumar Chellappan
Publication: Deccan Chronicle
Date: August 28, 2008
"The new alignment proposed for the Sethusamudram
Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) is no better in terms of economy and environmental
protection. Even after different permutations and combinations, this project
is destined to be doomed because it does not make any sense", veteran
navigator Captain Hariharan Balakrishnan has observed reacting to the suggestions
made by the Supreme Court to the union government to find out the possibility
of a new alignment for the controversial SSCP.
Capt. Balakrishnan said that the Bay of Bengal
Pilot, the sailors' information handbook,which is an encyclopaedia on the
Bay of Bengal, had exhaustive details about impediments to safe navigation
in the area.
"The book gives a detailed account about
the climatology, meteorology, wind speed, and list of ports in the region.The
book says that high-speed winds keep shifting and blow from all parts of the
compass.The wind in this region is of a swirling nature which can make a heavy
vessel drift dangerously", cautioned the former navy officer.
He said the geography of the 'new alignment'
was vulnerable to the infamous Venturi Effect. "High velocity winds blowing
through the area which resembles a geographical funnel will make the ships
drift away from their steered courses. I myself have experienced the same
while commanding a ship in the area. Larger the ship the greater and more
rapid will be the drift", said Captain Balakrishnan. He said no sailor
worth his salt would prefer this sea route.
He said though in normal circumstances the
drift could be prevented by increasing the speed, it was not feasible in a
narrow stretch of channel like SSCP.
"Yet another drawback with the new alignment
is its close proximity to shore. The ships will sail at a distance of just
3.5 nautical miles from the shore which is not prudent navigation", he
pointed out.
The captain reiterated his stance that the
expenditure incurred by ships sailing through the new alignment would benefit
neither the ships not the SSCP.