A regular ferry service between Tuticorin and Colombo will commence on June 13 from the port town of Tamil Nadu. The Shipping Minister, Mr G.K. Vasan, will launch the service that hopes to boost trade and tourism between India and Sri Lanka after the war in the island country came to end in mid-2009.
The Mumbai-based Flemingo Liners will operate the ferry service with its ship Scotia Prince that has nine decks with 317 cabins to accommodate 1,044 passengers. The service will initially be operated twice a week and it will take 14 hours to reach from India to Colombo, according to a company press release.
A consortium of Flemingo Duty Free Shop Pvt Ltd and Tradex Shipping Co Pvt Ltd, obtained the license to operate the ferry service.
The ship will have 40 staff on board and 25 ground staff to help with check-in procedures, immigration, custom procedures and baggage clearance. The ship can also take around 300 tonnes of cargo.
The basic economy room comes at an early bird offer of $49 (exclusive of taxes) and $65 (exclusive of taxes) during regular periods. The package includes complimentary dinner. Flemingo Liners will attract orders for chartered trips from communities that thrive on trade and business. They will also be looking at attracting corporate groups for conducting team outings on the ship.
Tourism and trade between both the countries has always been at its peak with almost 126,882 Indians visiting Sri Lanka in 2010 and around 239,995 Sri Lankans visiting India, the release said.