BELAGAVI
Having being in operation along the Mumbai-Goa route before the Covid pandemic, India’s first domestic cruise liner Angriya is now docked at Galle in Sri Lanka and is serving as sea travel bubble services.
However, Angriya is expected to be brought back to the Goa port once the situation across the globe eases out.
Out of business after shipping operations came to a halt across the globe last year, the Angriya has sailed to Sri Lanka and is on a mission to facilitate crew change and relieve stranded seamen.
Named after Kanhoji Angre, the first admiral of the Maratha Navy, Angriya has been providing service to sailors arriving from ships passing via Sri Lanka to depart for their home or to join ships to resume duties that are crucial for maritime operations across the globe, as most vessels pass via the island nation.
“Over 4 lakh seamen are stranded on ships across the globe since last year. This is a proud moment for us at Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd to be of service to sailors and seamen stranded across the globe due to limited frequency of flights to return home or join ships amid the Covid-19 situation,” Capt. Nitin Dhond, Chairman & MD, Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd, told The Goan.
Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd in collaboration with Sri Lankan authorities have entrusted Angriya for this operation that is the first of its kind and the company plans to resume operations in mid-2021 after normalcy returns.
Capt. Dhond said the ship is manned completely by Indian marine and hospitality crew which is now stationed in Sri Lankan waters for the next three months in its first phase of operations.
“It will be brought back to Goa port once the situation across the globe eases out,” he ascertained.
Leena Kamat Prabhu, Executive Vice Chairman of Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd, expressed gratitude towards DG Shipping and Mumbai and Goa Port authorities for their support.
According to reports, cruise liners across the world have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic.
The challenging situation confronting the shipping industry is such that some ships in India have already headed to ship-breaking yards as owners can’t maintain them and one Indian ship is currently being dismantled at the Alang Ship breaking yard.
