The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Shipping plans Kochi-Colombo passenger service

The Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has approached Cochin Port Trust seeking its permission for passenger shipping service between Kochi and Colombo.

The Kochi-Colombo sector was selected by KSINC considering the proximity of these ports and the potential of receiving regular commuters. Mr K.N. Satheesh, Managing Director, KSINC, said there was an unprecedented surge in the number of passengers to Colombo especially after the signing of the free trade agreement between the two countries.

The flights operated from Thiruvananthapuram were always full and there were more passengers in the waiting list. With the commencement of a shipping service, those passengers can be attracted for a voyage by sea, he added. The earlier proposal of KSINC to start the service from Vizhinjam was dropped due to lack of infrastructure to handle passenger ships. Moreover, the Director General of Shipping had also raised objection for a passenger ship service in view of the absence of proper facilities required for this, he said.

He said the company had already signed an MoU with a Mumbai-based firm in this regard and the role of KSINC was to extend necessary support for ground handling operations like arranging embarkation / disembarkation of passengers, facilitating berthing of vessels, Customs and Immigration clearances etc.

Feasibility Study

A senior port official, when contacted, said that the proposal was recommended and forwarded to the Union Home Ministry as it required security clearance. After receiving the necessary approvals, the port had to study the feasibility of various things before starting the service, he said.

According to Mr Satheesh, there was a rail ferry link between Colombo and India until the early 80's, which was disrupted. The people used this link had to depend solely on air travel, which was expensive.

Administrative Sanction

The company plans to buy a second-hand ship with a capacity to carry 700 passengers for the service. The cost of the ship will be in the range of Rs 35-50 crore and the proposal in this regard is before the State Government for administrative sanction, he said.

KSINC has been exploring the possibility of commencing shipping services through the Kerala coast connecting important minor ports in the State, he added.