THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Safe Boat Trip's project manager P T Biju said it has not dropped the hydrofoil project. Though the DG Shipping's approval was not granted, the company has altered the vessels docked at the Cochin Shipyard. It also plans to approach the Mercantile Marine Department.
Experts said meeting the strict guidelines set for holding passenger ship services on both exposed and inland waters and profitability factor involved the business are hard to meet.
At a glance
The project was announced during the time of the previous government. The hydrofoil, meant both for cruise and leisure, would take four-and-half-hours to cover the sea between the two ports
The craft lifts itself up out of water when in motion mainly with the help of 'foils' or 'wings' and little by way of displacement.
The vessel with a seating capacity of 130 or plus can move at speed between 30 and 40 naughtical miles (one nautical mile is 1.852 km)