Two more vessels join Andaman shipping fleet

Port Blair, Jul 4 (UNI) Two newly built vehicle ferry vessels, christened as M V Lapathy and M V North Bay (MS Class), joined the shipping fleet of Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

Each of the vessels has a capacity to carry 65 passengers, two cars and as many trucks or buses on its deck, Additional Director of Shipping Services of Andaman S K Malhotra said here today.

The taking over formalities of these vessels are likely to be completed by this week and the vessels will be pressed into service immediately after its completion, Mr Malhotra said.

Both the vessels have been built by M/s Garden Reach Ship Builders&Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, and after induction these will cater to the passenger and vehicle ferry needs of Bambooflat, Dundas Point and creeks on the Andaman Trunk Road, an official release of Andaman's Shipping Services said.

The release further said two more vehicle ferries (IV Class) bearing the name of M V Afra Bay and M V Karmatang, also built by M/s GRSE, are in the final stages of trials and survey at Kolkata.

These vessels are also likely to joint Andaman's shipping fleet here by the end of this month or August.

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