India's first solar-powered catamaran-type ferry in Kochi

Kochi has begun to operate India's first solar-powered ferry and wants Central subsidy to procure 10 more of the solar-powered catamaran-type ferries for Kochi and Alappuzha. The 75-seater ferry was introduced into service a month ago in the Vaikom-Thavanakadavu route and has provided impetus to the demand for solar-powered ferries in other routes.
The Centre had given 50 per cent subsidy for the vessel that cost approximately ₹2 crore.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 18 February 2017.

The normal subsidy of the center is 30% and, in view of the success, efforts are on to get 100% subsidy for the vessels proposed. Suitable changes could be incorporated in design, considering the difference in condition of water bodies in Kochi and Alappuzha because there is an acute shortages of ferries in these regions. Two partly air-conditioned ferries are under construction at two private yards at Aroor and these are expected to join the fleet shortly.
The daily operating cost of each ferry would be about ₹200 (equivalent to 20 units of power) as compared to ₹8,000 for conventional ferries. This would mean savings of approximately ₹2.5 lakh per vessel per month. Moreover, the solar ferry is more stable than regular ferries because of it has twin hulls and it weighs 17 tonnes as compared to 35 tonnes of other ferries.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Ferry services between Cuba and the United States to resume after 56-years

#Cuba #FerryService #Florida #travel #tradeembargo Ferry services between Cuba and the United States had been stopped in 1959 after Washington imposed a trade embargo on Cuba following its communist revolution. However, it has been reported in news.sky.com dated 7 May 2015 that passenger ferry services could soon be resumed between the two countries.

The US has now lifted the ban and has granted licenses to a number of American ferry companies – this would benefit the hundreds of thousands of people who travel between Florida and Havana every year.
Before the embargo, there used to be a regular ferry service between Florida and Cuba and thousands of American tourists used to avail the service to go to the bars and casinos in Havana and, simultaneously, Cubans would take overnight shopping trips to the US.
On a rough estimate, nearly 600,000 people travel between the US and Cuba every year and have to depend on expensive charter flights.
The US had indicated the restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba in December – due to that, the trade embargo was lifted which opened up the avenue for import of some goods that are produced by Cuba's new private sector.

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