New Ship To Sail Lakshadweep-Kochi Sector

Newly built passenger vessel M V Amindivi sailed from Lakshadweep to the Kochi port today. Lok Sabha deputy Speaker P M Sayed flagged-off the ship's first journey.

Prior to this, only two ships, Tipu Sultan and Bharathseema, sailed in the Kochi-Lakshadweep sector. However, ever since Bharathseema docked for repair works, islanders wanting to visit the mainland had to face severe transportation problems.

The new ship, which was built at the Cochin shipyard, has a capacity to carry 150 passengers. Amindivi is the first passenger ship built at Cochin shipyard.

The fully air conditioned ship has a storage capacity of 25 tonne dry cargo and 5 tonne frozen cargo. It has separate prayer hall and facilities for women travelling alone. The ship has a 25 member crew.

Sources at Lakshadweep said one more ship, being built at the Cochin shipyard, would be engaged in this route shortly.

It has been reported that the islanders' transportation difficulties would be overcome once all the four ships, including Bharathseema, are fully operational.