Abstract:
The Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) proposes to enable continuous shipping
between the western and eastern coasts of India without circumnavigating Sri Lanka.
India also believes that by having this channel the shipping distance (780km) and time
(30hrs) between western and eastern sea ports will be significantly reduced. The 160km
proposed channel connects the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal through the Adam's
Bridge, Palk Bay and Palk Straight and it is located within the Indian side, approximately
lkm from the international maritime boundary. The project involves 90km long dredging
at two channel locations one across the Adam's Bridge and the other part of the Palk Bay
through the Palk Strait. The SSCP will remove 82 million cubic meter of material to
enable ships with about 10m draft to sail through the channel which is to be dredged to a
depth of 12.8m and bottom width of 300m. The capital dredging across Adams Bridge
and in Palk Strait and continuous maintenance dredging along the proposed transit are the
critical project related issues.
