A. Harikumar
First state-of-the-art houseboat built in fibreglass to be launched soon
ALAPPUZHA. A technological innovation that may change the course of houseboat building industry here is all set to test waters soon. The first houseboat built in fibreglass, incorporating state-of-the-art boat building technology, would be launched shortly by an Aroor-based boat building company.
The new houseboat, which the manufacturers claim has many eco-friendly features, is being constructed under the supervision of a committee that includes representatives of the Department of Science and Technology of the Union Government and the State Tourism department. The technical in put for the project is being provided by the Indian Institutes of Technology Chennai, Mumbai and Kharagpur.
According to S. Jeevan, chairman of Samudra Shipyard Pvt. Ltd. that is building the houseboat, the joint effort by his company and various Government departments and institutions is to minimise pollution of water bodies from the wastes dumped by houseboats and to enhance their safety aspect along with increasing passenger comfort levels. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.1.5 crores, said Mr. Jeevan.
The Department of Science and Technology is footing half of the estimated cost of the project, he said. He said the boat would have an inbuilt bio-toilet system that would treat human excreta without using chemicals. It would have an acoustic control system to minimise vibrations of the boat when the engine is working and to reduce the noise levels. In addition the boat would incorporate thermal insulation, said Mr. Jeevan.
The boat would use inboard diesel engine that would cause minimum pollution unlike the outboard engines that spill oil into the water bodies, said Mr. Jeevan.
The hull would be strong and would need little maintenance, he said. It would also have a dual air conditioning system that could work receiving power from the main engine or from an external supply line, added Mr. Jeevan.