Introduction
From the house of Eastern Navigation Pvt. Ltd (Established 1957) an inland water transport and marine infrastructure player, comes ‘The Barge Company’ looking to bring one of a kind river cruise experiences and events on the Ganges.
As part of its latest offering ‘The Barge Company’ have been restoring a Colonial Era Paddle Steamer over the course of 2 years. The Paddle Steamer was originally built in 1945 for sailing in the Bengal delta, commissioned by the East India Company and its relevant subsidiaries. The enterprise took over the restoration of India’s last surviving paddle steamer and it is now complete, and the vessel is being relaunched in November 2022 to sail on the Hooghly (Kolkata) with its paddles and vintage machinery now in working condition, showcased as installations. Currently it has been reimagined as a multidisciplinary space having two open decks (a 7000 sq. Ft area for 500 people), a F&B area and a one-of-a-kind Riverine Museum showcasing the heritage of the Bengal Delta.
The Bengal Paddle: Bringing Vintage Luxury to the Ganges
Our most ambitious project till date a 360-degree restoration of this vessel involved us taking it over as it lay in ruins at the Kidderpore Docks and in partnership with the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (formerly Kolkata Port Trust) we have undertaken the venture to restore it to its lost glory.
The Bengal Paddle, we will offer a singular experience in all of India as far as river experiences go, as it is the last surviving Paddle Boat from the colonial Era in Asia. It has now been given a new lease of life with the joint efforts of exemplary minds in Heritage Restoration, Naval Architecture, Structural Engineering and the Events and Lifestyle Space. It has taken 320 tonnes of steel, 8 tonnes of teak 4.5 lakh hours of labour have gone into the restoration of the Paddle Steamer.
All of her original machinery has been repaired and re-calibrated and displayed as striking installations. The original Paddles, the Crank Shaft Unit, the Anchor Windlass and the Navigational Searchlight have all been revived to take visitors back in time and get a glimpse of the era gone by.
Our discerning customers will sail aboard the restored 75+ year old vessel in all its resplendent glory and reminisce the golden age of river transportation in the Bengal Delta this winter. This space can accommodate 500 people and we are looking to curate one-of-a kind experiences for those who want to experience the grandeur of the Hooghly. In addition to this, a first of its kind, Riverine Museum has been curated in the erstwhile boiler room of the vessel and will help the city learn about the history of the Hooghly and the Paddle Steamers that sailed on it.
After it’s restoration The Bengal Paddle is being launched as a multi-disciplinary space, spread over three decks, each restored keeping in mind the theme of vintage luxury. She will house
a dedicated F&B space (both indoor and outdoor) and an exquisite venue spread over almost 10,000 sq. feet that can host all kinds of personal and corporate events for up to 500 guests It is a unique and an ideal venue for all kinds of celebrations from personal milestones such as sangeets, weddings, anniversaries, to literary, musical, fashion, lifestyle events.
History of the Bengal Paddle
Built in 1945 in Scotland by William Denny & Bros, Dumbarton It has now been restored by ENPL as a valuable lesson in heritage conservation. Originally named ‘Paddle Steamer (PS) Bhopal’ it is being rebranded and launched as the ‘Bengal Paddle.
It was one of the four vessels ordered by the Joint Steamer Companies (India General Navigation and Railways Company (IGNRC) and River Steam Navigation Company) during the British Era and is now the last surviving Paddle steamer in India. The ship was designed with a draft of only just over 5 feet; ideal for the shallow waters of Indian rivers.
An extraordinary amount of effort has been undertaken to preserve the elements of the original vessel. Particular attention was paid to capturing the essence of the hull shape and the riveted superstructures, the Steam Engine, the Paddles, the Anchor Windlass and the Searchlight.
Features
Upon its restoration, The Bengal Paddle is now split over three luxurious decks, they are follows:
TOP DECK
The Bengal Paddle has 5000+ square feet of space, split between an open deck and a 2000 sq. feet air-conditioned banquet. The top open deck provides a panoramic view of the river and its banks like no other. The AC Hall is pillarless and aimed at creating an all-weather experience. This deck also comes with two cosy wooden suites.
MIDDLE DECK
A 3500 sq. ft open space steeped in heritage and luxury, with spectacular views of the river and its banks. It also showcases all the revived machinery from the original paddle steamer – including the now working paddles and propulsion system. This deck also has provision for 600+ square feet of kitchen and service area, along with 4 dedicated well-appointed washrooms.
LOWER DECK
One-of-a-kind Riverine Museum capturing the history of the Hooghly and the evolution of various aspects of marine navigation, with particular emphasis on steam propulsion.
