Latest news with #KSINC
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nefertiti back in service from Sept 1
Kochi: Nefertiti, the luxury cruise vessel owned by Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), will resume service on Sept 1 with reduced fares and a shorter schedule after a monsoon break. Weekday evening cruise rates have been cut from Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,400 and weekend/holiday rates from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,700. The trip duration is now four hours instead of five, while morning cruise rates remain largely unchanged. Launched in 2018, the 200-seat Egyptian-themed vessel features event spaces, restaurants, a lounge bar and a 3D theatre. KSINC said the fare cut aims to attract more passengers to boost Kochi's cruise Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala govt approves new barge to boost inland water freight sector
T'puram: The state govt has sanctioned the construction of a 500-metric tonne (MT)-capacity bulk barge for Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC), reviving a long-pending infrastructure project crucial to the state's inland water freight sector. However, the delayed implementation resulted in a significant cost escalation, with the final approved estimate rising to Rs 6.65 crore — up by nearly 48% from the original 2017 sanction. The revised sanction, issued on June 7, comes in the backdrop of rising freight demand from FACT Ltd, KSINC's largest client. KSINC currently handles about 300,000 MT of cargo annually, two-thirds of which is transported for FACT alone. With FACT planning to ramp up its operations to 600,000 MT per year, the new barge is seen as critical to meeting future capacity. Originally sanctioned in Oct 2017 at Rs 4.5 crore, the project was shelved when FACT altered its import strategy. A revival request was made by KSINC in 2022 as demand rebounded, but by then the cost landscape changed drastically. The most significant factor behind the cost increase was the enactment of Inland Vessel Act, 2021, and associated rules in 2022. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 中年以降であれば、このゲームは必須です。 BuzzDaily Winners ゲームをプレイ Undo The new regulations mandate that vessels exceeding 24 metres must be constructed under Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) or equivalent class society standards, necessitating advanced safety and structural features. These changes directly inflated material, design, and certification costs. Initial tenders post renewal saw lukewarm response and high bids — up to Rs 10.44 crore. In a cost-saving move, KSINC decided to shift construction to its own yard in Thoppumpady, avoiding yard rental and launch charges. A fresh round of bids under this model brought the estimate down to Rs 6.65 crore. The breakdown of the revised estimate shows steel works alone cost Rs 4.19 crore, followed by Rs 57.63 lakh for machinery and Rs 25.47 lakh for pipes and fittings. The plan was cleared by a technical advisory committee, and the finance department gave its nod with the condition that a detailed technical review be conducted. A three-member expert committee, including marine engineering and shipbuilding experts, approved the estimate and design plan. Of the Rs 6.65 crore, Rs 5 crore will come from the state plan fund under the Cargo Barge Construction (KSINC) scheme, while the remaining Rs 1.65 crore will be met from KSINC's own resources. The project was approved by the state cabinet on June 5. While the sanction marks a key step forward for the public sector shipping utility, the episode underscores the financial and regulatory pressures that delayed public infrastructure projects can face. Nonetheless, the state sees this as a strategic investment toward enhancing its inland water transport infrastructure in line with modern maritime standards. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Time of India
Kerala: Monsoon travels to get get better with KSINC's backwater cruise offers
Are you visiting Kerala during the monsoon season? You will now be able to take advantage of cruise services and that too at discounted prices. As the monsoon season is typically regarded as an off-peak time for cruise services, KSINC is offering discounted special tours and packages to draw travellers. The company intends to give its cruise services, including the well-liked Sagararani cruise, a minimum of a 25% discount. Monsoon-themed Sagararani cruise With a "monsoon trip" theme, the popular Sagararani cruise will continue to run. In contrast to popular cruises that go out to sea, this service will stay in the calm backwaters and offer guests a singular perspective of the area's verdant surroundings. Willingdon Island, an artificial island that plays a vital part in Kochi's port operations, and Mattancherry, renowned for its Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue, are important stops on this off-season itinerary. Read more: 5 places where culture shock hits hardest and fastest KSINC is actively marketing these monsoon packages across various platforms to reach a broad spectrum of potential travelers. The company hopes to capitalise on the expanding trend of off-season travel, where travellers want to see places from a different angle, frequently free of the crowds that characterise peak-season travel, by marketing the Sagararani cruise and other boat services as ideal choices for monsoon tourism. I glide through the tranquil backwaters on a kettuvallam, surrounded by lush paddy fields and coconut trees. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow. Year-round accessibility This initiative is a component of KSINC's broader strategy to continue offering cruise services all year long and increase passenger numbers during the traditionally slow months. Kerala's backwaters are well-known and still attract both domestic and foreign tourists, particularly those around Kochi. However, because of weather-related worries, visits typically decline during the rainy season. KSINC hopes to mitigate the effects of the seasonal downturn and ensure that the backwater cruise industry is booming throughout the year by providing special deals and concentrating on monsoon tourists. Read more: 10 things that you experience when you travel with ZERO plans In order to promote monsoon tourism and provide tourists with a remarkable journey experience through Kochi's serene backwaters, KSINC has come up with this reasonably priced cruise packages and unique backwater experiences. By offering these special deals, KSINC intends to ensure that Kerala's backwaters are open throughout the year, and offering tourists the option to take advantage of these pleasurable experience even during off-peak hours. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
KSINC plans monsoon cruise packages to attract tourists during off season
Kochi: Aiming to attract more tourists during the monsoon season, which is the off-season for cruise boat services in Kochi backwaters, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) is planning to introduce special trips and packages for visitors. As per the plan, KSINC will offer journeys at a lower rate during the entire off-season. It was learnt that the corporation might offer a minimum of a 25% discount on packages during such seasons. The special packages would be applicable for almost all of its cruise boat services, including the Sagararani cruise. However, Nefertiti cruise is not operated during the monsoon period and the service will resume in Sept. "We want to attract more visitors during the off-season. So, we are experimenting with a similar method followed by the tourism management societies in major destinations like Ooty. We have to provide service at a low rate during such seasons," said a KSINC source. The corporation has already started marketing the Sagararani service under the 'monsoon trip' theme to attract more passengers. As the cruise service will not enter sea waters during the monsoon, it will cover other destinations such as Mattancherry, Willingdon Island, etc.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- New Indian Express
All sea-going services suspended as heavy rain batters Kochi
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.
