BL reported that 11 cruise ships will call at Kochi port in the current month.

With this, the number of cruise ships the port is expected to host in the current fiscal will be 36. True, the number falls short of 2007-08 figure of 43 but considering the present global meltdown, when cruise shipping all over the world has taken a hit, the estimated figure, it is felt, is not bad. Kochi port has always attracted the largest number of cruise ships among Indian ports and over the years the figure has been steadily rising 11 in 2002-03, 18 in 2003-04, 19 in 2004-05, 22 in 2005-06, 38 in 2006-07 and 43 in 2007-08.

Not surprisingly, the port is trying to set up a modern international cruise terminal. Hopefully, the Union Government’s cruise shipping policy underlining conducive fiscal regime, development of port facilities, proper connectivity, quick completion of immigration formalities, hassle-free Customs clearance and proper waste disposal system too will facilitate this plan.

(Sourced from Business Line)