With the aim of reducing carbon footprints and making tourism sustainable, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation which is Government-run has launched its solar-powered hybrid boat at Queen’s Terminal, Marine Drive, Kochi.

Christened as Sooryamshu, this vessel is air-conditioned and has a capacity to accommodate 100 passengers. It has an upper deck while its lower one can be used as a DJ floor and conference hall.

Sharing details about the vessel, T.K. Chacko, Chairman of KSINC said: “The solar-powered hybrid tourist boat is probably the first of its kind in the State. Keeping the environmental factor in mind, the boat has a sewage treatment plant. Therefore, only treated water will be disposed of.”

Sooryamshu’s solar panels have the capacity to produce 27 KW of energy and it has generators which will enable operation of passenger lift systems and air-conditioners. About 75 per cent of the vessel’s energy needs will be met with what is generated by the solar panels while the remaining will come from the generators.

Built at a cost of Rs.3.95 crores at a facility in Sri Lanka, KSINC plans to use it for two tour packages. The first one is the Kadamakkudy package that will offer tourists sightseeing and kayaking at a cost of Rs.799. Kadamakkudy is a cluster of 14 islands located less than 10 kilometres from Kochi city.

There will be delay in this package as at some spots on the route there are Kerala State Electricity Board low-lying cables which will hinder the smooth passage of the boat. As per R. Girija, Managing Director KSINC they are sorting out the issue with the Board officials.

The other package will take the tourists to Matsyafed farm in Ernakulam district. Here they can enjoy not only kayaking, paddling and fishing but also savour exclusive seafood offered by the farm.

KSINC’s other tourist vessels, namely, Nefertiti, Sagar Rani-1, and Sagar Rani-2, are already conducting cruises in collaboration with Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s budget tourism packages.