Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on June 11, 2011:
By G Saravanan
Chennai: After a delay of three months from its scheduled start, India’s first international passenger ferry service will sail from Tuticorin to Colombo on Monday.
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan will flag off the Flemingo Liners-chartered MV Scotia Prince from VO Chidambaranar Port (earlier known as Tuticorin port).
The new ferry service is scheduled from Tuticorin to Colombo twice a week initially and will take 14 hours to reach the destination.
To accommodate the new tourism potential and to meet the need for expatriate Lankan Tamils living in the State since 1980s, there has been a consistent demand to restart the ferry service which had been stopped because of the ethnic conflict in the Island nation.
Flemingo Liners has now chartered the ship to run this service between the countries. The ship has already sailed between Portland and Yarmouth in 2004.
A consortium of Flemingo Duty Free Shop Pvt Ltd., and Tradex Shipping Co Pvt Ltd., have obtained the license to operate ferry services between India and Colombo for seven years.
The nine-deck spacious ship houses 317 well-designed cabins (including 111 economy rooms, 2 special cabins for physically challenged, 11 first class rooms and 2 suites) that can accommodate 1,044 passengers and has world-class facilities on board equalling cruise liners. MV Scotia Prince will have over 40 staff on-board to attend to customers.
By G Saravanan
Chennai: After a delay of three months from its scheduled start, India’s first international passenger ferry service will sail from Tuticorin to Colombo on Monday.
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan will flag off the Flemingo Liners-chartered MV Scotia Prince from VO Chidambaranar Port (earlier known as Tuticorin port).
The new ferry service is scheduled from Tuticorin to Colombo twice a week initially and will take 14 hours to reach the destination.
To accommodate the new tourism potential and to meet the need for expatriate Lankan Tamils living in the State since 1980s, there has been a consistent demand to restart the ferry service which had been stopped because of the ethnic conflict in the Island nation.
Flemingo Liners has now chartered the ship to run this service between the countries. The ship has already sailed between Portland and Yarmouth in 2004.
A consortium of Flemingo Duty Free Shop Pvt Ltd., and Tradex Shipping Co Pvt Ltd., have obtained the license to operate ferry services between India and Colombo for seven years.
The nine-deck spacious ship houses 317 well-designed cabins (including 111 economy rooms, 2 special cabins for physically challenged, 11 first class rooms and 2 suites) that can accommodate 1,044 passengers and has world-class facilities on board equalling cruise liners. MV Scotia Prince will have over 40 staff on-board to attend to customers.
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