New- Marinas for India
by Hindu Business Line/Sail-World Cruising on 26 Dec 2007
The most famous view of Kochi (Cochin) - traditional Chinese fishing nets SW
In what will be hailed as only good news for the international cruising sailor, Kochi (Cochin) will be the site of a new joint venture between an Indian and an Australian company to build marinas in India. Kochi, a major port, and another city in the rich state Kerala, Alappuzha, will also be the sites of the first marinas.
Kochi is a convenient port for those crossing the Indian Ocean – safe, pleasant and fascinating – and could well replace Colombo in Sri Lanka as the most popular stop on the cruising route. Sri Lanka has had doubtful benefits for the cruising sailor lately, as that country tries but staggers towards lasting peace.
The city-based Floatels India Pvt Ltd and the Sydney-based J.S. Parsons Structural Consultants Pty Ltd are the joint venturers, and plan to form a 50:50 joint venture that will design and build marinas, said Mr M.R. Narayanan, Managing Director, Floatels India, and Mr Joshua Parsons, Managing Director, J.S. Parsons Structural Consultants.
While Floatels India has interests in hospitality and construction, J.S. Parsons has worked on marina projects across the world. The joint venture company will be registered in India and will fabricate the marinas. Land for setting up the fabrication unit has been identified in Kochi, they added.
Initially, the company will look at working on marina projects in India, Mr Narayanan said. Over the period, it also plans to fabricate marinas in India and export them to other parts of the world, Mr Parsons added.
According to Mr Narayanan, there is a need for well-designed, modern marinas in India. There is tremendous potential for water-based leisure activities in India, especially given the country’s long coastline. And modern marinas can help boost such tourism-related activities.
Marinas create significant employment opportunities, with every berth in a marina generating employment for up to 10 people, Mr Parsons said. They also create economic benefits for associated industries such as boat building, restaurants and so on.
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