KSINC is considering further restrictions on ro-ro operating hours to prevent engine overheating. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
The Kochi Corporation plans to expedite the long-delayed dry docking of its two roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels in quick succession once the third vessel is added to the fleet, with the services already hit by maintenance issues for the existing vessels.
Currently, one vessel is out of service and traffic is being managed only with the other. Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation Limited (KSINC), which operates ro-ro services, is considering further restricting the operating hours to 6:00am-12:30pm and 4:00pm-10:00pm with an extended afternoon break to avoid engine overheating. KSINC is likely to formally communicate the plan to the corporation. The vessels were due to be dry-docked in December 2024, but the deadline has since been extended twice, pushing it to 2027, leading to significant attrition.
“We have already reached an agreement with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the drydocking of both vessels and only formalities remain. The drydocking will be done one after the other once the third vessel is added to the fleet. All processes related to the ro-ro services and the Fort Queen ferry, which has been decommissioned in 2023, will be completed before discussions with VK MiniNC.
KSINC sources said the decision to curtail the ro-ro services was taken in the interest of passenger safety, given the long delay in the dry dock. They pointed out that the extension was granted after inspecting only the hull, without inspecting the safety-critical machinery.
Annual dry-docking of the two vessels comes at a cost of ₹ 4.50 crore as CSL rejected the company’s request to reduce the fee. Councilors across political groups criticized KSINC for incurring huge operating losses on ro-ro services, except during peak seasons such as the Kochi Carnival in December.
The civic body’s 2026–27 budget proposed the creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to manage the service, criticizing the Left Democratic Front, which described it as potential privatisation. Discussions on the creation of an SPV have been ongoing since 2020, but little progress has been made.
KSINC attributes the growing losses to unchanged tariffs dating back to the era of jhankar services that preceded ro-ro, despite fuel costs almost doubling since launch. While the jhankar used only around 100 liters of fuel per day, the ro-ro uses around 350 litres. Fuel prices have gone up from ₹ 52 per liter at the time of launch to ₹ 96 now, yet user charges have not increased by a single rupee. In addition, most ro-ro components are imported and therefore expensive. KSINC recently proposed a marginal user fee, which the company rejected.
Published – 15 May 2026 19:24 IST
