New electric river ferry to be operated in West Bengal, India

Indian state-owned shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has handed over a new electric catamaran ferry to the Transport Department of India's West Bengal state.

Dheu ("Wave") has an aluminium hull, an FRP superstructure, a length of 24 metres, an air-conditioned cabin that can house 150 passengers, and a 246kWh liquid-cooled battery that drives two 50kW motors connected to propellers to deliver a top speed of 10 knots. The battery can be charged via shore connection or a set of onboard PV panels with a total output of 18 kWh.

A 50kW diesel generator is also fitted for use during emergencies.

Dheu was built in compliance to Indian Register of Shipping class rules. The ferry is the first in a new electric vessels that are slated to replace the ageing diesel-powered ferries operating on the Ganges and Bhagirathi Rivers.

GRSE is also building hybrid diesel-electric ferries for the government of West Bengal.