Ferry service from Kochi to Maldives by February

November 26, 2011: The proposed Kochi-Male weekly ferry service is likely to commence by January-February next year.
The Expression of Interest will be floated by Shipping Corporation of India after receiving confirmation from Maldives, according to a Cochin port press release.
The service is commencing pursuant to the decision by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed at the SAARC Summit this year at Male.
A team of officers from Maldives Ports Ltd led by Hussain Naeem, Deputy CEO, Maldives Port held discussions with Cochin Port Trust yesterday and today to finalise the arrangements.
It was decided to structure the ferry service as a cargo-cum-passenger service with passenger capacity of 300 and also to carry about 15/20 containers and about 500 tonnes of break bulk cargo.
SCI has been mandated to invite Expression of Interest and identify an operator to take up the ferry service.
The Maldivian team also held discussions independently with representatives of Indian and Cochin Chambers of Commerce and Industry and met representatives of Shipping companies, Custom House Agents and Seafood Exporters Association.
In Cochin Port, the ferry will be berthed at BTP Jetty and will use the Cruise Terminal facility being developed at a cost of Rs 7 crore. Work on the terminal is expected to be completed by March, 2012.