India welcomes first marina

by Ocean Blue/Sail-World Cruising on 23 Apr 2010 The good news for cruising and circumnavigating yachts is that India has finally finished her first marina - 37 berths in Kochi in the rich south western coastal state of Kerala. The bad news is that because of the piracy in the waters off Somalia not many sailors these days are heading to or from the Red Sea.

Kochi, nevertheless is an excellent stop for yachts, and the marina is placed ideally within the city. Attached to the shoreline of the historic Bolgatty Palace Hotel, visiting yachts to Kerala have long enjoyed easy access to this rich Indian Harbour city by a pleasant 10 minute ferry ride, and the facilities of a Government run but first class hotel facility with vast tree-scattered lawns and swimming pool.

Placing a marina in this excellent city also provides the only marina - and it will have all the normal facilities - between South East Asia and Egypt, so it will be greatly valued by long range cruisers who will be able to access water, power and some maintenance.

Even without any infrastructure, numerous luxury yachts call at Kochi every year, en route from the Gulf or West Asia regions to destinations in the Far East and vice versa. The marina is close to the international maritime route at the south west coast of the Indian Peninsula, with favourable conditions and minimum tidal variations throughout the year. Kochi also has a world class natural Port and an International Airport and hence was the chosen port of call for the Volvo Ocean Race India Stopover in 2008-2009.

Ocean Blue Marinas, the company behind the construction has announced the inauguration of KTDC’s 'Kochi International Marina', to take place on April 24, 2010.

It's a red-letter day for India, whose growing middle class is starting to be aware of the sport of yachting, and the marina will be inaugurated by India’s Honorable Union Minister for Defence, Mr A. K. Antony, and Honorable Minster for Home, Vigilance and Tourism, Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who will be presiding over the function.

This marina project, with state-of-the-art facilities, is a Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) venture and is located on the eastern coast of Bolgatty Island in the Bolgatty Palace Heritage Hotel.

Ocean Blue Marinas have been involved in the design, advisory, planning and installation and now will also be the marina managers and service providers for the Kochi International Marina. Ocean Blue Marinas & Services will have a dedicated management team at the marina capable of servicing yachts, boats and catamarans as well as provide facilities for repairs and maintenance for local and visiting yachts.

The marina plans will be open from April 24, 2010 onwards. Initially, the marina will have berthing facilities for 37 yachts, which will be increased to 50 in the second phase. In line with international standard marinas, the Kochi International Marina will also provide essential services such as fuel, water, electricity and sewage pump-out for boats. International safety measures and standards have been followed for the construction and operation of the marina.

Let us hope that it won't be too long before the tragedy that is the country of Somalia solves its problems and the yacht traffic to and from the Suez Canal resumes

About Ocean Blue: Ocean Blue Marinas, a part of the Ocean Blue Group, is India's first world-class turnkey marina development company with an unrivalled range of capabilities, facilities and services, providing a depth and breadth unique to India's boating industry.

Ocean Blue, India’s only institutionalized boating group, is an end-to-end boating conglomerate with diverse interests around leisure boating activities ranging from infrastructure and manufacturing to services, charters, sales and marketing.

For more information email info@oceanblue.in or visit www.oceanblue.in