Is it permitted to sail to Kolkata/Calcutta?

[VolcanoRider]

May a small private sailboat navigate the lower Hooghly River, aka the Ganges, from it's mouth in the Bay of Bengal upriver to Kolkata? And if so, what is available for private mooring in or around the city?

I have scoured the internet to the best of my ability, and have only found information regarding the passage of commercial cargo vessels and their docking facilities. There's nothing mentioned anywhere about private boats. I cannot even find a Google image of a modern private western style sailboat located anywhere near Kolkata, which leads me to further wonder if the passage is permitted.

I have found the Hooghly River upstream of Kolkata is inundated with local vessels and commercial cruises, but even there I find no evidence of any modern western sailboats or yachts.

I am writing a novel that poses these questions, and I would like to provide information that is as accurate as possible. Thank you for your time and help.

[colemj]

Having had the "privilege" of working in Kolkata, I have to ask WHY would anyone want to take a boat there?

Even in a novel, to anyone with experience in the area, it would be a totally unbelievable character that would willingly take a boat there.

Anyway, I never saw any pleasure boats there, nor any marine services of any ilk, and I think the river is too full of dead bloated carcasses to navigate.

Mark

[Tientos]

As an option check out:
Sailing Down The Ganges | Freedom2be
it offers 'off the track' sailing in an ungraded version of the local boats. Very rough and you sleep ashore in a tent, but what price authenticity?

[VolcanoRider]

Thanks, Mark. The dead bloated carcasses just make it all the more fun. Ski boarding dead body slalom, anyone? But back to the subject. Letting go of the "why" and the believability aspect of it, do you know what the rules are regarding private boat passage there? It's possible, certainly, because barges do it. But is it permitted?

[VolcanoRider]

Thank you for the link, Tientos. I'll check it out and get back to you.

[VolcanoRider]

Unfortunately, the link is an ad for cruises in a different part of the Ganges. I specifically am looking for the section from Kolkata/Calcutta downstream to the river mouth at the Bay of Bengal. Thank you, anyway. It was worth a shot.

[Tientos]

What a pity. Would they do a contract run? Love your idea though and wish you every success with book.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Tientos

….but what price authenticity?

Dysentery to an extent you would not think possible.

Mark

[hpeer]

Sorry, I need to ask.

What type of carcass? Human, cow, other?

[colemj]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Sorry, I need to ask.

What type of carcass? Human, cow, other?

Yes.

Mark

[bustermaw]

As far as I am aware no pleasure craft are allowed to sail the coasts of India.
There is only one marina in Cochin in Kerala and you are required to moor your boat there and not move it again until you receive customs clearance to leave .
I was on a friends boat in Cochin last year and this was the law.
They also took his sat-phone away from him because that too was illegal.
Believe me , the Indian government are very serious about this.
I was amazed at the level of bureaucracy there. But then again they learnt it from us Brits