Local Goa News

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Now, surplus ferry to take on cruise boat avatar

PANAJI: The state's river navigation department will soon introduce a 'pleasure craft' which combines the features of a cruise ship with that of a regular ferry boat, and this will be available for use by citizens and tourists.

A surplus ferry boat called 'Miramar' is being modified into a cruise ship by the river navigation department (RND), and this ferry-cruise boat will have a round canopy to offer people aboard ample shade and a bigger deck on the floor above.
'Miramar' will have music, refreshments and a comfortable seating area. Sources from the department said nearly 50% of the work has been completed to revamp the ferry into a fun pleasure craft.
The vessel has a capacity to carry 30 persons, and the pleasure craft will ferry people from the PANAJI jetty to Old Goa. Four crew will be posted on board.
"People are showing interest in the pleasure craft even before it's introduced. They want to hire it on an hourly basis for private events," senior superintendent, river navigation department, Vikram Rajebhosale, told TOI.
Currently, only one ferry boat is in the process of being modified for this project. It will be introduced on an experimental basis and, based on the response, more ferry boats are likely be modified and added to the service.
During the monsoon assembly session, river navigation minister, Ramkrishna Dhavalikar alias Sudin had said the department is building a pleasure craft to be launched sometime in September. "This (pleasure craft) could be used for tourism," he had said.

TOI Goa News

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