The commencement of seaplane services in India, to connect remote areas, has been one of the key results areas identified by the PM Narendra Modi. The dream will now come true thanks to Spice Jet flying in seaplanes from the Maldives and REL Marinetek providing a practical solution for providing a safe docking platform for the seaplanes.
While the PM’s launch of the prestigious seaplane program at the Statue of Unity on Sardar Patel’s birthday on 31 October 2020 is being keenly followed by the nation, REL Marinetek is justifiably proud in their achievement of creating two world-class floating concrete jetties in an incredibly short time period of 25 days. These jetties, one at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and the other at the Statue of Unity at SardarSarovar (Narmada Dam), are state-of-the-art floating concrete structures, produced locally by the Marinetek India, the Indian arm of the global market leader in floating concrete technology, Marinetek Group Oy, Helsinki in collaboration with Ravindra Energy.
Marinetek pontoons are heavy stable floating platforms, ideally suited for passenger craft operations. Being constructed of reinforced concrete they are robust and long lasting, requiring little or no maintenance. Most importantly, floating jetties like these don’t require elaborate environmental clearances and can be installed within a very short time; for a fraction of the cost of the comparable typical “fixed” RCC jetties.
The advantage of floating concrete jetties has dawned in eyes of the nation’s builders. Says Gautama Dutta, MD Marinetek India, “The scepticism is past. Today Marinetek is delivering safe docking solutions to the people of India. Besides the Gujarat seaplanes terminals, our list includes floating concrete docks for the prestigious Kochi Water Metro, Goa Waterways terminals, the Gateway of India embarkation jetty in Mumbai, and more”. Looking beyond the upcoming Gujarat seaplane inauguration, Gautama, an avid yachtsman,is excited at the prospects of yacht marina projects for Marinetek in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Andaman Islands.
