Vizhinjam: The state all set to welcome the country's first high-speed hydrofoil ferry service as the department of ports and Dubai-based Safe Boat trips, a company run by non-resident Keralites (NRK), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here Friday.
In the first phase, the service will connect Marine Drive in Kochi with Beypore port in Kozhikode. A service to Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram will be launched later.
Two 130-seater air-conditioned double-engine ships will be used for the services, which will be restricted to daytime. The ship will have all modern facilities including pantry and entertainment facilities. The vessels can cruise at a speed of 30-40 knots and a one-way trip to Beypore will take at least four-and-a-half hours. The fares will be around Rs 1,200 but are yet to be fixed.
The ports department will setup facilities for the service at the Kochi port.