KOCHI: After successfully operating cruise vessels like Sagararani and Sagararani-II in Kochi sea, the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) Ltd is moving on to cruise vessels of higher capacity. A new vessel named ‘Nefertiti” is getting ready at Goa Shipyard for being floated in Kochi backwaters and sea.
The new vessel will be one of its kind in Kerala with its sea going properties, 200 seats capacity air conditioned hall, deck, restaurant and areas for recreational activities on board. ‘Nefertiti’, named after an Egyptian queen and wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten during the 14th century B.C, means beautiful companion. A senior KSINC official said that the company hopes to float the vessel in coming July.
“The restaurant will be able to accommodate 90 persons and the vessel will have a play area for children. It will also have a 100 seater 3D theatre also. We have also applied for a bar licence for the vessel,” the official added. “It will be designed as a mono-hull class VI passenger vessel according to the Merchant Shipping Act and will comply with the sea keeping properties. It can be used in sea voyages ranging from 2 to 12 hours. We are planning to operate the vessel for tourists based at Kochi and depending on trial runs we may also consider operating it to link top tourist destinations in the state by sea, possibly towards Kollam in the south, and towards Calicut in the north,” the official said.
He also said that the vessel won’t be used for any passenger ferrying purpose. KSINC has currently priced Sagarani rides for '350 for sunset cruise in Kochi and it is expected that the rides of Nefertiti too will be priced attractively.
