Holiday lovers rejoice! Soon more Indian ports to offer cruise voyages

After tasting success at its maiden cruise holiday venture at the Mumbai Port, the Ministry of Shipping has planned to extend this tourism initiative to other destinations in the country by way of facilitating and streamlining seamless travel and hassle-free immigration facilities at major ports in order to encourage luxury liners to choose their home ports in India.  

Cruise shipping is a fast growing component of the leisure industry worldwide with a potential to earn huge amount of foreign exchange by providing the right policy environment and infrastructure for the growth of cruise shipping and tourism.

India has seen a decline in cruise traffic over the last five years on account of inadequate port infrastructure and no domestic lines operating on the Indian coast, according to an official.

According to a person close to the development, the Ministry of Shipping has appointed B. K. Associates as consultants, which would submit its proposal on the subject by May-end.  A Task Force, under the chairmanship of Secretary (Tourism) with Secretary (Shipping) as Co-Chairman, has been constituted to promote cruise tourism in the country.

The report would focus on information on the potential sites for the home port and related infrastructure development alongside it.

In order to streamline the operations and facilitate tourism, the government has allowed foreign flag vessels carrying passengers to call at Indian ports without obtaining license from DG (Shipping). The facility for the same has been extended to February 2024 from February 2019.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cruise vessels have been finalized in consultation with stake holders. Port-level committees have been constituted to address manpower, coordination and logistics issues for handling cruise vessels at ports.

By way of incentivizing cruise ships, the government would offer a minimum rebate of 30% on port charges for cruise vessels, not levy any priority or shifting charges for berthing cruise vessels if informed 30 days in advance. However, subsequent shifting for ship convenience is chargeable.

The government would also provide additional rebate of 25% for coastal cruise movement and walk-in or preferential berthing to homeport cruise without extra charge.

In addition to the existing terminals at Cochin, Mumbai, Goa and New Mangalore Port Trusts, one cruise terminal is currently under development at Chennai.

To facilitate liberalized visa regime including e-visa at these five ports 65 additional immigration counters have opened, 15 counters each in Mumbai, Cochin and Mormugao, 10 each in New Mangalore and Chennai.

Costa Neo Classica cruise ship has made Mumbai Port as home port with approximately 1400 passengers per voyage, 3 days of stay & stopover at New Mangalore, Goa and Cochin Ports   while going to Maldives. 

Till date, seven voyages have been confirmed once in every fortnight with 1st voyage completed on 22nd December, 2016.

There are 12 major ports - Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Managlore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, VO Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) in the country and the cruise tourism facility is likely to be extended to all major ports in the future.