Indra (boat)

History
India
Name	Indra
Owner	Kerala State Water Transport Department
Operator	Kerala State Water Transport Department
Port of registry	Kodungallur
Route	Kochi waters
Builder	Navalt, Kochi, India
Cost	₹3.71 Crores
Yard number	Y-19
Launched	December 2023
Completed	December 2023
Maiden voyage	December 2023
In service	December 2023
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	Indian Register of Shipping IRS +IW ZONE 1, FERRY
Type	Catamaran
Displacement	40 tonnes
Length	27 m
Beam	7 m
Height	6 m
Draught	1.0 m
Depth	1.8 m
Decks	Double
Installed power	2 × 10 kW (cruise) 2 × 20 kW (max)
Propulsion	2 Permanent magnet asynchronous electrical motors – 20 kW each (max) @ 700 rpm
Speed	7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) (max) 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) (cruising)
Capacity	100 passengers
Crew	3

Indra is the largest solar-powered boat in India. ^[1] It started operations in Kochi waters in the Indian state of Kerala on 22 December 2023. The design and construction was done by Navalt at their Kochi headquarters and their Navgathi Panavally Yard.

Statistics

Ever since the boat started operating, it has been a hit with the passengers. ^[2]

Technical features

The 27-metre-long and 7-metre-wide boat is covered by 125 square metres (1,350 sq ft) of solar panels rated at 25 kW, which in turn connect to two electric motors of 20 kW, one in each hull. ^[3] There are 1500 kg of lithium-ion batteries in the ship's two hulls with a total capacity of 80 kWh. The catamaran hull and its shape allow it to reach speeds of up to 7  knots. This was verified by Indian Register of Shipping surveyor.

The boat is remotely monitored and troubleshooting can also be done remotely. All the operating parameters of the boat are recorded and transmitted to the Navalt's server from where the technical experts can monitor the boat. The upgrades and settings in the software can also be performed remotely as if a computer is plugged into the boat. This makes the boat even safer. ^[4]

Safety features

• The boat is a catamaran and hence more stable than single-hulled boats. Even with 50% more capacity, 150 passengers, the boat will meet all the criteria for stability. ^[5]
• The propulsion battery is approved by DNV Class. These higher standards of safety are essential to ensure the risk of thermal runaway is minimal. ^[6]
• Cell level monitoring of the battery ensures that risks are lower.
• There are three levels of safety warning for various parameters like temperature of cells, motor, and many more. Level one indicates certain parameters are approaching threshold limit. The next level is the warning that limits have reached and hence need a slowdown, and finally level three warning that limits have breached and the system need to shut down to protect it.
• There are two independent power train that provides reliability and redundancy. A system fault in one power train does not affect the other since they are electrically independent. The boat satisfies the Indian Register of Shipping's safety requirement of being able to maintain cruise speed with one set of propulsion shut down. ^[7]
• There are two generators on board to take care of range anxiety – a three phase 30 kVA genset to power the auxiliary including air conditioners and a single phase 25 kVA genes to recharge the propulsion battery.

See also

• Electric boat
• Solar Impulse, a solar powered airplane
• List of solar-powered boats

References

1. "SWTD launches India's largest solar electric boat". The Hindu.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
2. "India's largest solar-electric boat Indra a hit". New Indian Express. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
3. "Navalt unveils Indra, India's largest solar electric boat". India Sea Trade News. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
4. "Kerala government purchase India's largest electric boat". Baiju N Nair Vlog. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
5. Dubrovsky and Matveev. New Types of Seagoing Multi-hull Ships with Superior Comfort Level and Safety, Passenger Vessels for the New Millennium. pp. 1–12.
6. "Deep Dive: Perspectives on Battery Safety in Marine Transportation and Applications". www.youtube.com. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
7. "Navalt website". www.navaltboats.com. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

External links

• SWTD