KOCHI: Even as the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) denied reports of its sea-going cruise vessel ‘Nefertiti’ sailing dangerously in the rough sea the other day, the adverse weather has forced the authorities to indefinitely suspend all sea-going services.
This after the Cochin Port Authority (CPT) denied permission for operators to sail beyond the Vypeen Ghat citing adverse weather conditions for the second straight day.
Luxury vessels, including that of major private operators like ‘Neo Classic Cruise & Tours Pvt Ltd’ and ‘Minar Cruise’ didn’t operate their sea-going services. ‘Nefertiti’ and other sea-going vessels of KSINC including ‘Sooryamshu’ and ‘Sagararani’ also didn’t conduct services.
“We didn’t operate the vessel on Monday despite having advance bookings on all days till May 31, following the issuance of adverse weather warning alerts. The services tomorrow (Tuesday) too remain cancelled,” a KSINC spokesperson told TNIE.
Nefertiti is allowed to sail 12 nautical miles (nearly 22 kms) into sea only till May 31. The sea-going services won’t be conducted during the monsoon season – June, July and August.
Meanwhile, the KSINC denied reports that it operated the sea-going ship in violation of the restrictions placed by the port authorities on Sunday.
“Nefertiti is a cruise ship registered under the ‘M S Class 6’ (Merchant Shipping Act) and is capable and legally allowed to sail up to 20 nautical miles into the sea. However, it sails only up to 12 nautical miles to avoid taking the Immigration Clearance of the Cochin Port,” KSINC said in a statement, while denying that it operated dangerously on Sunday.
“On the said day, the ship sailed only after receiving the nod of the Cochin Port and travelled only two nautical miles from the LNG terminal and returned since the sea was rough. Also there was no situation that forced the ship to anchor in the sea,” it added.
The private operators too are currently not taking advance bookings for their sea-going services, especially the popular sun-set tours in the evening.
“We’re not taking bookings till we get a clearance from the Port Trust. However, for the convenience of those who made advance bookings in the sea-going vessels ‘Classic Imperial’ and Classic Paradise’, we’re operating the cruise vessels in the backwaters from 5pm to 9pm,” said an official of ‘Neo Classic Cruise & Tours Pvt Ltd.
Earlier in the day, an intense spell of rain lashed Kochi and surrounding areas. The torrential rain resulted in the backwaters turning rough and both the State Water Transport Department and the Kochi Water Metro suspended boat services to Fort Kochi, Vypeen and Mattancherry for at least an hour.
“We suspended services from 9.30am to 10.30am following adverse weather conditions.
We got directions that the operations should not be conducted in adverse weather conditions.
The coastal police also issued strict directions to tourist boats operating from Marine Drive to operate only up to the Vypeen Ghat.
The heavy rains also resulted in a decline in tourist arrivals compared to the previous days.
