Hydrodynamics, sediment transport and particle anal ysis modelling of the sethusamudram ship channel project

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.