The Mumbai ‘Time Ball’ – A Maritime Legacy That Needs To Be Conserved

Dr. Hrishikesh SamantAssociate Professor and Head

Department of GeologySt. Xavier’s College - Mumbai

• A time ball or timeball is an obsolete (today) time-signaling device. It consists of a large, painted wooden or metal ball that dropped at a predetermined time, principally to enable navigators aboard ships offshore to verify the setting of their marine chronometers.

Mumbai ‘Time Ball’ -The Location

Lat 18057’12.2” N and Lon 72050’33.2” E

Port Side of Frere Road (P Dmello Road today) Landmark: Foot over bridge on P DMello Road approx. 100m from the exit of the Eastern Freeway

✪

View from Eastern Freeway

Mumbai ‘Time ball’ view from south exit of Eastern Freeway.

The Mumbai ‘Time Ball’

Constructed around 1880 -88

Today, just about 60 time balls exist around the world, most of them, in former British colonies, in varying stages of maintenance, and the Mumbai Time Ball, is unfortunately not counted among these.

The Port Land Development Plan as sanctioned by the Centre would incorporate this area for the Maharashtra Housing Projects.

It is an urgent requirement that the conservationists and activists be made aware of this ‘maritime heritage’, one of the few remaining sites in the world.

Let us conserve our maritime heritage…

Thank you…