Mechanical & Dredging Department

In order to maintain & sustain port activities, the Mechanical & Dredging Section plays a very significant role in order to provide shipping, berthing, beaching, piloting & dredging facilities for smooth & efficient working. The facilities being provided are at par with changing shipping technologies and also to adhere to IMO norms & guidelines being in force time to time to enhance port operation & capacity.

Accordingly GMB carries out the above activities through various Tugs, Dredgers and Pilot Launches that it own and in order to adhere to changing shipping technologies. GMB has planned to procure Tugs & Pilot Launches with state of art facilities for shipping & piloting purpose for safe berthing of the vessel.

In order to maintain designed dredge levels at GMB commercial ports, it has been decided to procure Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger & Self-propelled Cutter suction dredgers. The planning has been done considering new sites being under consideration of development.

GMB has taken up for the 1st time an ambitious project of Ro-Ro ferry services between Dahej & Gogha so has to decongest road traffic and to encourage sea route movements. Accordingly, it has been planned to carryout capital dredging of 3.9 Mm3 in order to achieve levels of 5m below CD for round the clock safer navigation of the ferry vessel that shall call at both the terminals. Moreover, it has been planned to install PE make Navigation channel marker buoys at both the terminals as per IALA guidelines. The buoys have been equipped with GPS system for tracking & safety purpose.

GMB provides & maintains channel marker buoys at Magdalla, Veraval, Okha, Jamnagar and Navlakhi ports for safe piloting and navigation. It has been planned to upgrade existing M.S Channel marker buoys with state of art GRP PE/PU buoys at Okha Port that shall be built and maintained as per IALA guidelines. It has been planned to install mooring facilities to moor cargo barges of 2000 DWT- 03 No’s at a time while awaiting tidal waters at Bedi Port.

The traffic at Bhavnagar port has increased substantially and in order to provide better/safe navigability it is planned to carryout massive maintenance dredging so has to achieve PLUS 10 Feet levels in the outer channel up to turning circle outside the lock gate.

For an environment friendly, safe & secured cargo handling and in order to comply to GPCB norms, GMB has planned to mechanise its coal handling ports by providing following services & mechanizing the dust suppression system for cargo handling facilities :-

GMB

GMB ports are being operated as per ISPS guidelines and accordingly in order to comply with its norms it has been planned to install CCTV , Access control systems for security & surveillance at Magdalla, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Okha, Bedi and Navlakhi. Moreover, Patrol Boats have been procured for Bedi, Porbandar, Okha, Bhavnagar & Magdalla. Moreover, 2T Tug & 35T bollard pull Tug Pirotan has been procured for beaching purpose for Alang and Piloting purpose at Sikka.

Considering overall developments of GMB ports and new areas being developed, GMB has planned to illuminate them so has to have sufficient lux for safe effective cargo working. Moreover, due to continuous research, developments in field of electrification are being taking place in order to conserve consumption of power. Accordingly, GMB has undertaken ambitious projects of illuminating its ports through installation of HM Tower, replacing luminaries with state of art power rating luminaries etc.

GMB has planned to develop & provide Dry docking Solutions for GMB and other vessels considering larger size, capacity and draft vessels that GMB has already procured and planned to procure.

GMB carries out dredging on behalf of Fisheries Department under depository work at Veraval & Porbandar. GMB also provide services to other Govt. Departments like ICG, Navy, GMDC, GSFC etc. for dredging purpose as well as for TPI.

The list of Mechanical/Dredging fleets are as follows :-