Okha – Mandvi sea ferry service to be relaunched with new boat

Bhuj: Mandvi-Okha ferry service which failed to sustain beyond 9 days in January is going to be relaunched this month with a new boat.

In its previous launch the boat was taken on lease from Singapore. In 9 days period it had completed 29 trips. The service had to be stopped permanently due to issues in boat. This time the operators have brought ‘Mahi’ boat which is registered with Maharashtra Maritime Board.

While previous boat from Singapore had 220-passenger capacity, the new boat Mahi has 100 seat capacity. it will take 2.15 hour time at 10 nautical mile speed to cros 24 nautical mile distance between Okha port in Saurashtra and Mandiv port in Kutch. The service is likely to depart at 7.00 am from Okha and start return journey from Mandvi at 12.00 noon. Final details are being worked out.

Mahi boat has already arrive at Okha and trial runs are already in operation.

While 52 seats are in air conditioned cabin, 48 are non AC. Provisions of life boat, life jacket etc are made for safety of boat passengers. The service will not be operated between 1st June and 31st August due to rough sea in monsoon seasoon.

The service which has been named as ‘Kutch Sagar Setu’ will be operated by Marine Services Private Ltd led by Rajesh Doshi.

DeshGujarat