Mangaluru: Floating jetty for fishing under construction

Team Udayavani, Jun 23, 2024, 9:46 AM IST

Mangaluru: In a first, a floating jetty to anchor traditional fishing boats is being constructed in Mangaluru. The project, initiated by the Fisheries Department, is located at the third phase of the fishing jetty in the Hoige Bazaar area.

The Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) is overseeing its implementation. A similar jetty is also planned for Malpe in Udupi.

A concrete pontoon has already been constructed and anchored in Mangaluru. Two more pontoons are required, and the jetty will be located mid-water, connected to the riverbank. This setup will allow small vehicles to access the jetty, enabling the transfer of fish brought in by small boats directly to the shore. Boats can also dock along the ropeway.

Purpose

Currently, there is a lack of space for boats at the port, causing significant issues for traditional country boats to dock. To address this, the construction of the floating jetty was proposed as a pilot project in the 2019-20 budget.

“This is the first floating jetty being constructed to develop the fisheries port in a smart city format, providing convenience to country boats. This marks a new change in the fisheries sector,” said MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath.

Currently, country boats are docked at Bengre. To unload fish, they must come to Mangaluru’s fisheries port and transfer the fish to other boats in a laborious manner. The floating jetty will put an end to this problem.

Advantages

The new jetty requires land, but land acquisition and space issues are resolved as it is constructed on water. It will provide space for docking country and traditional boats. The floating jetty remains at water level, avoiding issues caused by fluctuating water levels at existing jetties.

Sometimes, boats bringing fish must wait for space to unload, and larger boats with ice storage prevent fish spoilage. However, small boats and country boats without ice storage will benefit from the new jetty, as they can quickly unload fish.

The floating jetty can also be dismantled and relocated if necessary.

Special Features of the Floating Jetty

• The pontoons are made of concrete.
• Inside the pontoons, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is used.
• Each pontoon is 20 meters long; three pontoons combined will be 60 meters long and 6 meters wide.
• Accommodates 30 traditional boats.
• Each pontoon weighs around 180 tons.
• The jetty can easily support a weight of 360 tons

Construction Commences

“The floating jetty is being constructed for the first time in Mangaluru to reduce boat congestion at the fisheries port and facilitate traditional boats. The first phase of the work is underway,” said K. Ganesh, Managing Director, KFDC.

Translate from a Kannada article by Dinesh Ira