The Hindu Business Line : Kochi port plans better services for cruise vessels

THE cruise vessel mv Europa has anchored at Kochi port on Thursday. This is the fourth cruise vessel to call at Kochi during the current tourist season.

The vessel arriving from Agathi in Lakshadweep has 249 passengers and 273 crew on board. Around 20 passengers will be boarding the ship from Kochi. A vessel of Bahamas nationality, Europa, has an overall length of 198.52 metres and a draught of 61 metres. It can accommodate 408 passengers and 273 crew members.

To cash in on the growing international tourist influx to Kerala, the port authorities intends to improve its services and develop the infrastructure so as to suit the requirements of increased cruise traffic and passengers alike.

It is felt that there is enough potential for the Kochi port to not only cater to the cruise passengers but also to act as crew change over port.

The port authorities expect about 40 vessels from around the globe every year and it had prepared a plan for building world-class infrastructure for servicing cruise ships.

The port proposes to set up an exclusive passenger terminal of at an estimated cost of Rs 55-60 crore. It is proposed to set up the terminal jointly with the State Government and the Union Government.

Currently, Kochi port is in greater demand than the Mumbai port on a cruise destination encouraging the port authorities to go ahead with its plan to build the cruise terminal.

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