We first met Shri Jaya Krushna Rath aka (JK Rath) at his Mancheswar Corporate office in Bhubaneswar towards the end of last year (2024).
Sitting in his unadorned office cabin at the centre of the Mancheswar Industrial Estate, the dynamic entrepreneur still exhibits remarkable energy and enthusiasm after an entrepreneurial career that spans over forty (40) years.
A Graduate of the Sambalpur University in Chemical Engineering (1979), Shri Rath has exhibited an unparalleled commitment in the pursuit of technical excellence. Over the last few decades, Shri Rath has worked in various fibreglass manufacturing processes, particularly in the boat-building sector in Odisha. He made a name for quality and innovation throughout the eastern coast with his robust boats and maritime crafts. Here, he proudly explained to us that “a certificate of having worked at Mechem ensures any person a job in any boat building firm from Kalinga to Kanyakumari.”
Mechem Solar Boats: A New Venture for an Experienced Firm
In his offices packed with models of various types of Fiberglass boats and crafts, one feels that one has entered the workshop of a restless mind always pushing at the boundaries of what is possible and what is practical. Shri Rath, enthusiastically gave us an overview of his newest interest, that is adapting “Solar Power for maritime use.” Mechem under his able guidance is building dependable 4-to-10-seater solar electric boats.
Barges and Boats: Solar-Powered Tourism Boats
In two detailed conversations, he explained to us the opportunities and challenges of applying Solar Power to modernising tourism-centric boats for the Eastern Seaboard.
He pointed out that Solar Technology despite having a very high-cost input balances this out in its environmental and economic efficiencies.
One of Shri Rath’s passion projects is solarized tourism—eight-to-ten-seater barges for nature reserves at the Chilika Lake and Bhitarkanika National Park.
A Life of High Seas: Boat Building in the Bay of Bengal
Having first trained in the building Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) boat building from IIT Kharagpur in 1980 he has continuously pushed the boundaries of his technical understanding of boat-building techniques.
Which was letter augmented through an extensive international training phase with the Food and Agriculture Organization under the UN for better boat building for fishing and other livelihoods.
The project was funded by the Bay of Bengal Program of the UN and Mechem was selected to successfully design beach landing crafts which were robust, safe and improved fishing catches by ten (10) times.
Eventually, Shri Rath would help setup an entire non-traditional boat-building ecosystem around Puri centred around his Mechem activities. Puri’s current boat yards are in a certain way a reflection of the innate drive for excellence and social good in Shri Rath. From training boat builders and workers, to helping indigenize international boat technology for Eastern Indian waters, Shri Rath has done it all. For that he was recognized by the people of the Odisha and by pioneering figures like Shri Biju Patnaik, legendary CM of the state. Interestingly, many of his early boats from the 1990’s are still in use in Puri for various purposes.
Solarized Electric Boats: Need for Innovation and Reform
Shri Rath points out that by bringing down the use of unregulated and unsafe diesel engine boats and replacing them with solarized electric boats the Tourism Industry can offer a low carbon footprint and relatively noise-pollution-free experience.
This is critical for a fragile and complex ecosystem in India like the Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest saltwater lagoon, which hosts both maritime and avian species seen in very few ecosystems.
Under his able guidance, Mechem is still experimenting with this new possibility of making solar boats that are able to balance the load and power output ratio. Along with these technical challenges of matching maximum power need with the peak solar hours there are the cost considerations which will make new Solar boats competitive in India’s price-conscious market.
As the interest aroused during the conversation, I tried to float a few questions to JK Rath around FRP boats, innovations needed to build perfect solar boats, and the critical need for Green Transition in India & Odisha. Below are the edited excerpts.
What’s new with FRP Boats? How have they evolved in recent years?
Boats are the most ancient mode of transport. Modern naval architecture is just a refined theory of basic ancient naval architecture. Refining the hull design as per-use at sea or river conditions, the new material of construction has come up to make the boat lighter and smooth and even low maintenance. Mechanisation with different prime movers and essential modern equipment are the game changers.
What are the key innovations in Solar Boat manufacturing?
Many manufacturers are trying to outboard electric motor development in India. But the imported ones are better to date. Lithium – Ion battery is also slowly available in India. But expensive.
In recent years, when electric vehicles are of importance, Electric boats are equally important to save our environment. They are silent, have low operating costs, and are excellent when they have to be operated at wildlife sanctuaries. Again, in recent years solar energy has been used, and its rating has gone up.
What few key design challenges do you think Solar Boats and Maritime Systems can face?
Solar panels have some weight, and keeping them at a height as the canopy height always moves the centre of gravity ofthe boat upward, thus affecting small boat stability. The boat has to be designed accordingly and so the FRP Catamarans are our answer to the problem. Nowadays flexible light weight solar panels are available but are expensive; otherwise design is not an issue.
Why are Solar boats critical for Green Transition in India & Odisha?
Investment with high cost of Lithium batteries and electric outboard motors are the major constraint in electric boats compared to conventional boats and the investment pattern is very high in Solar powered electric boats.
Electric boats are approximately 4 to 5 times costlier but are critical to bring down the carbon footprint of our maritime sector.
As far as Green transition is concerned, there are many new technologies which are coming up like hydrogen fuel cell, sodium ion batteries and many more Currently we have no idea of this transition time. But Lithium iron phosphate battery system is presently sustainable.
Role of connectivity is shaping the future of Solar and FRP Boats?
Solar boats need Catamaran design to have more area for panels as the width has to be more. It’s always difficult to move on highways. Again, such Catamarans need wider roads and the largest lake of Asia the Chilika lake doesn’t have an approach road for such boats. So, the boats need to be sent to site in parts and has to be assembled there which adds up to cost. Government should make road infrastructure better for the lake.
How is Mechem reaffirming its leadership position in FRP Boats solutions?
Mechem is one of the oldest boatyards in the country with adequate experience with various boat building practices. It upgrades its expertise with infusion of new technologies as boating technology is improving around the world. Presently Mechem has gone into electric and solar boats too.
You have built a think tank. Give us some points behind the motivation and need for such a platform?
A think tank named “Forum for River and Ocean Scientists & Technologists” (FROST) has been formed in Bhubaneswar as a Society by a group of Technologists and engineers of national as well as international repute. The group regularly does seminars on various issues on water and its use and in particular maritime activities. Government should take advantage the diverse expertise available from the group.
What can the Government of India do for your industry and Odisha?
Govt. of India should come up with a scheme to assist financially for replacing the conventional boats with good electric boats, which ultimately will change the scenario improving passenger safety and lowering negative environmental impact.
Presently, Govt. of Odisha is trying to use electric and solar boats in Chilika and Bhitarkanika area. Govt. also planning to retrofit the systems in existing boats in Chilika in a trial basis. Can’t we imagine the feel at the Chilika Lake in an operational boat without the diesel engine sound!