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Our Bureau

EARLY BIRD: Pacific Princess arriving at Cochin Port. - H. Vibhu

Kochi , Aug. 21

THE first cruise vessel to call at the Cochin Port during the current tourist season, Pacific Princess, with 611 passengers and a crew of 377, arrived on Sunday morning from Colombo, and left for Mumbai in the evening.

A vessel of Gibraltor nationality, Pacific Princess has an overall length of 180.45 metres and a draught of 7 seven metres. She can accommodate 680 passengers and 530 crewmembers.

During the current season, according to a Cochin Port Trust press release, Asia's leading cruise liner, Star Cruise will operate Super Star Libra on the Indian coast. She will visit this port four times between Oct 2005 and Mar 2006.

Besides, the most coveted luxury cruise vessel Queen Mary II is expected to call at Cochin port in March and it is the only Indian port of call on her maiden voyage to Indian shores. The same month will also witness the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, Prinsendam and Amsterdam - all premium luxury cruise vessels, it said.

Visits of these cruise vessels signify the prominence of Kochi as an emerging major cruise destination in the international cruise market.

In pursuant to the various initiatives taken by the National Committee on Cruise Shipping (NCCS) and the Ministry of Shipping, Cochin Port had submitted a feasibility report to the Ministry of Tourism seeking financial assistance of Rs 10 crore under their Assistance for Large Revenue Generating Projects Scheme for construction of a cruise terminal, the release said. The proposal, it said, is under examination by the union tourism ministry.

Meanwhile, the NCCS consisting of the six cruise ports in the country has prepared a tender to appoint a consultant to conduct a techno-economic feasibility study for promotion of cruise tourism. The consultant is expected to advise the respective ports on the development of infrastructure and for making India a popular cruise tourist destination, the release added.

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