A high-speed luxury cruise boat, that will launch its maiden service between Kochi and Kozhikode during the Onam season, arrived here at the port waters from Athens on Tuesday.
“The Bolghatty-Kozhikode service by the hydrofoil boat will be the first of its kind in India and is expected to draw passengers,” sources in the State Port Department said. “The Department is making arrangements for the launch of the service,” sources added.
They said the major attraction of the service would be the cruise time of less than three hours with the boat travelling at around 35 knots per hour. The fare will be Rs.1,000 per head.
The cruise boat will use the waters within the 12 nautical mile region and the service will be operated during day time. The cruise boat has a capacity to accommodate 150 passengers though the Port Department has issued permission for only 120 passengers now.
“The second high-speed service is expected to be launched between Bolghatty and Vizhinjam after the first service to Kozhikode takes off,” the sources said.
Cochin Port Trust sources said the port authority was waiving port-related charges to facilitate the service.
