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Lakshadweep to get new all-weather passenger ship

KOCHI: The long-awaited passenger ship, m.v. Kavaratti, built for the Lakshadweep administration by Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam, will make its maiden voyage from Kochi to Kavaratti in the first week of August.

The ship, for which the people of the Union Territory had clamoured for nearly two decades, is expected to ease transportation problems of the island people.

The islanders rely for their daily needs, medical care and education on the mainland, especially Kochi.

The Rs.139-crore ship, which was long in the making, will be flagged off from the Visakhapatnam port by Union Minister of State for Home Renuka Selvi on Sunday.

It is expected to sail into the Kochi waters on Thursday and will be given a rousing reception.

The first voyage to the islands is likely to be on August 2 or 3, Director of Port and Shipping in the Lakshadweep Administration, A. Hamza, told The Hindu.

The 700-seater all-weather ship has 200 first class seats and 200 second class ones.

It can carry 160 tonnes of cargo, which facility will be of immense benefit for the islanders as they get their vegetables and other provisions from Kochi.

The fully-air-conditioned ship has state-of-the-art navigational equipment and amenities, Mr. Hamza said.

The ship is the outcome of long years of struggles by the Lakshadweep people and political parties and the efforts of administration officials. After delays and procedural wrangles, the order for the ship was finally placed with the Visakhapatnam shipyard in August 2000.

It should have been delivered in February 2003, but due to frequent hiccups at the shipyard the ship took three times the normal manufacturing time.

The delay caused enormous cost overrun.

With the arrival of m.v. Kavaratti, there will be a fleet of three all-weather ships and three fair-weather ships for Lakshadweep. But, this will be the first brand new all-weather ship as the other two, m.v.

Tipu Sultan and m.v. Bharat Seema, with fewer seats, were all purchased second-hand.

Travel between Lakshadweep and the mainland as well as between one island and another has always been a problem for the islanders because of shortage of vessels.

Travel woes get worse during the monsoon, when the fair-weather ships are pulled out of service and at lease one of the all-weather ships is sent for regular maintenance.

Administration officials hope that the new ship will reduce the number of agitations by stranded Lakshadweep people and those waiting for ships for weeks together during monsoon.

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