India's first marina that would be inaugurated on the eastern side of the KTDC-owned Bolghatty Palace Hotel on April 24 would be able to berth 34 yachts in the first phase.
It would be inaugurated by Defence Minister A K Antony. Sixteen more floating docks would be built in the second phase. Named the Kochi International Marina, the facility would provide berthing for seafarers travelling east from the Suez Canal, said the KTDC chairman Cherian Philip.
Facilities would also be readied for repairing the yachts and for refueling them, since the guests generally remain berthed here for over a month. The marina would be operated for the first three years by Ocean Blue, an international firm.
A marina house with 24 deluxe rooms and a recreation centre too are ready. It would be managed by the KTDC. The floating docks have been built over beams erected in two acres of the backwaters.