The Hindu Business Line : `Sagara Rani' ready for backwater cruises

NEW LOOK, NEW ROLE: Sagara Rani, the refurbished vessel of Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, is all set to take up a new role. - K.K. Mustafah

Kochi , Aug. 18

SAGARA RANI, the refurbished, air-conditioned cruise vessel owned by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), is all set to sail through the backwaters this Onam season to offer various types of cruises.

Sagara Rani is an old vessel taken over by the KSINC from the State Tourism Department and renovated to suit the modern trends in backwater tourism. The vessel was in a sunken condition at Bolghatty Palace since 1988 and the repair works were carried out at the corporation's slipway complex at Thoppumpady.

Mr K.N. Satheesh, Managing Director, KSINC, told Business Line that it had invested around Rs 2 crore to make the vessel seaworthy. The objective is to explore the vast potential of backwater tourism in the State as the corporation recently embarked on various tourism-related activities linking waterways.

Considering the importance of water-linked tourism, he said, KSINC is also planning to operate tourist boats, speedboats and luxury yachts. It recently hired a luxury yacht from abroad to operate in the backwaters for a rent of Rs 10,000 per day and Rs 3,000 per hour. "All these initiatives have been taken as part of KSINC's diversification programmes and also to remain competitive in the changed business environment," he said.

Unlike the usual department style, Mr Satheesh said, the marketing and hospitality services would be outsourced to meet the needs of the customer. KSINC proposes to engage a leading marketing company as GSA for arranging cruises. Each cruise will be arranged on advance booking through different outlets established for this purpose in association with tour operators, major hotel networks etc. The rates for each cruise would be decided only after consultations with the private firm.

The ship, with a 60-passenger capacity on either side of the deck, will provide facilities for conducting onboard events, conferences with facilities like DJ floor, restaurants etc. The upper deck is meant for events and DJ floor, and an air-conditioned conference hall and a restaurant are provided in the lower deck.

The cruises include breakfast cruise, lunch cruise, sunset and dinner cruise. On all cruises, food will be provided on board. There are also plans to include a late night cruise with onboard events, food etc.

The ship will also be hired to companies for conducting small meetings, conferences, board meetings and product launches, he said.