Sooryamshu offers day cruises with dining, conference and angling facilities
Tourists who want to explore the backwaters off Marine Drive and further into the sea can now do so on the Sooryamshu, a double-decked solar tourist boat from the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).
The vessel, which cost ₹3.95 crore to build, can carry up to 100 passengers and has safety features certified by the Indian Register of Shipping. It also has a diesel generator for backup power. The lower deck has an air-conditioned conference hall-cum-DJ floor, while the upper deck has a cafeteria-cum-dining area.
There’s also a lift for those who need assistance. The Sooryamshu will offer six-hour and seven-hour day cruises priced at ₹799 and ₹999 per person, respectively.
The shorter cruise will take guests on a route between Marine Drive and Kadamakudy, while the longer one will include a visit to Matsyafed’s fish farm at Njarakkal.
KSINC’s managing director, R. Girija, said a 150-passenger tourist vessel is also being built, along with a 500-tonne barge and a 1,400-tonne barge that can operate on India’s coastal shipping route