India-Maldives ferry service to begin this month

Photo: ORF

Male’, Maldives – The cargo ferry service between Cochin, Kulhudhuffushi and Male’, has been scheduled to start on 20th of September.

According to an Indian media outlet, “The Hindhu”, the first cargo vessel to Maldives has been scheduled to depart from Tuticorin port on September 20, which will arrive in Kochi on September 22 and proceed to travel to Maldives on September 26. The vessel will return to India on October 1.

The Indian High Commission in Maldives previously revealed that a vessel operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, capable of carrying 200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU’s) and 3,000 tonnes of general cargo, would be utilised for the service. The turnaround time for the cargo ferry service will be approximately 10 days.

The governments of both countries signed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to establish ferry and cargo services by sea on June 8, 2019, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Maldives. The Indian Cabinet approved the service in the following month.

Male’ and Kulhudhuffushi are situated approximately 708 km and 509 km away from Kochi respectively. Kulhudhuffushi and the northern Haa Dhaalu Atoll are considered untapped tourist destinations.

 

Source: The Edition