High-speed ferry service to connect Kochi and Vaikom

KOCHI: Giving a boost to the water transport systems linking

Kochi

city, the Kerala state water transport department (

SWTD

) is set to launch a new high-speed

ferry

service on Sunday. The service using a

Vega 120

Ferry Boat will connect Kochi and Vaikom.


The journey time between Ernakulam boat jetty and Vaikom boat jetty is estimated to be 90 minutes during the peak hours, as compared to around two hours taken by buses.

The vessel can carry 120 passengers - 40 commuters in the air-conditioned cabin and 80 passengers in the non-AC cabin. The ticket fare for AC cabin is fixed at Rs 80, and non-AC is Rs 40. While the ferry boats currently plying in the state’s inland waters operate at speed of 14 kmph Vega120 will generally operate at 22 kmph.

“If compared to boats having similar carrying capacity, Vega 120 is more fuel efficient. It needs approximately 40% less fuel to operate at 12 knots speed compared to any other similar sized ferries plying in Kerala,” said an SWTD official. “While normal ferries use 500hp engines to operate at same speed, Vega is using a 340 hp engine. Hence Vega 120 will help the SWTD save about 200 litres of diesel a day,” he added.

The vessel, which sets sail from Ernakulam will halt at Thevara, Panavally and Perumbalam before reaching Vaikom.

The boat is designed and built by Navgathi Marine Design and Constructions.

Finance minister Thomas Isaac will launch the service at Vaikom boat jetty on November 4 in the presence of transport minister A K Saseendran.

The vessel meets the highest safety standards and has an active fire protection system. The engine room is completely insulated with A-30 and hull and inner deck are coated with fire resistant resin to prevent fire accidents. The boat can be remotely monitored, and troubleshooting can also be done.