Even though officials said
efforts are being made to repair and get it back into service, uncertainty
continues as it has been regularly developing snags for a couple of months now. In Aug, the vessel got steering wheel problems and it was not in
operation until mid-Sept. Just after it restarted service, there were further ‘starting
troubles’. It had just been back in service for only a week when the new
trouble surfaced.
Vypeen-based Janakeeyakootayama demanded that a new vessel be brought
into service immediately. The
responsibility of operating the two Ro-Ro vessels in the route has been
entrusted to Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation. Kochi
corporation has recently awarded construction of a new Ro-Ro vessel to Cochin
Shipyard Ltd at Rs 18 crore.