DEVELOPMENT OF CRUISE TERMINAL CUM EXHIBITION / CONVENTION
HALL NEAR BTP JETTY AT COCHIN PORT
Cochin Port in India is presently the most preferred port of call for major cruise lines
like Royal Caribbean International, Cunard Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Star
Cruises, etc. Among Indian Ports, Cochin Port has been a pioneer in cruise tourism and
has been, for the last several years, the numero uno cruise port in India with maximum
cruise calls. Prominent among last year’s callers were Cunard Cruise Lines’ Queen
Mary 2 and Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.
There was also a turnaround in the voyage of Aida Aura of Aida Cruises was also
managed at Cochin Port and Cochin International Airport. The Cochin Seaport-Airport
Highway is a great help in such ventures. The inland water route from Cochin
International Airport to Cochin Port which is now being made navigable, will add
further to the attractiveness.
In the current year about 50 calls for day visits have been confirmed. Amet Cruises have
also declared their intent to homeport their vessel Amet Majesty at Cochin and to do
four sailings a week for six months from October 2011. Additionally, an EoI has been
called to run a ferry service from Cochin to Mali every week.
Cochin Port has declared a 20% discount on vessel related charges for vessels up to
30,000 GRT, and 30% discount for vessels of 30,000 GRT and above. In case there are
two sailings a week by the vessel out of Cochin, a 50% discount has been offered.
Cochin Port now proposes to develop the BTP as a Cruise Terminal Berth by
extending it by 280m towards north and providing passenger facilities in the adjacent
6,000 sq.m Multi Purpose Shed. A copy of the Location Sketch is given at Annexure 1.
The Multi Purpose Shed was put up 2 years ago with assistance from the Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India. Cochin Port is developing 1,500 sq.m of this facility as
a Cruise Terminal with Rs.7 crores funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Government
of India. With this, there will be an air-conditioned Passenger Lounge, Customs and
Immigration Counters, Luggage Counter, Baggage Conveyor System, Public Address
system, Drinking Water, and Modern Toilets. A copy of the plan is given at Annexure
2.
The facility will also have appurtenant area of around 1.5 acre which can be used as
parking space, which will be leased on daily basis subject to availability, for which
license fee is Rs.35/- per sq.m. or part thereof per month plus automatic annual
escalation of 2%.
Cochin Port Trust proposes to tender out the running and maintenance of this 6,000
sq.m for a period of 30 years.
The successful bidder will have to further develop this Multi Purpose Shed with
tourism-related amenities (such as, but not limiting to, Foreign Exchange counters,
Bank service counters, ATM, Cafeteria, Restaurant, Ice Cream Bar, Shopping Arcade of
Gift /Souvenir/ Artifact & Curio shops, Internet Café, Magazine/Book store/Agents
Offices), and service all the cruise vessels visiting Cochin Port.
During the off season at the Cochin Port for cruise vessels, the successful bidder may
also use the facility as a Exhibition Hall/Convention Hall.
The bidding parameter will be the gross revenue-share basis, apart from the yearly
lease rental on the shed payable as fixed by TAMP from time to time.
Annexure 1
Annexure 2
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