A technical malfunction affected one of the two roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ferries operating on the Vypeen-Fort Kochi route on Monday evening, raising serious concerns about passenger safety. The ferry’s engine failed due to overheating, causing it to drift temporarily during its trip.
Officials from the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), which manages the ro-ro services for the Kochi Corporation, reported that the engine issue stemmed from a blockage in the vessel’s sea chest. This blockage disrupted the intake of seawater required for cooling. Crew members managed to resolve the issue manually after approximately 30 minutes.
“Blockages in the sea chest caused by debris such as water hyacinth are not uncommon. Although we perform daily cleanings before service, complications can still arise during operations. Given that the vessel was navigating through a busy shipping channel, dropping anchor was not feasible,” stated company sources.
In light of this incident, KSINC announced plans to remove one of the two ferry vessels from service starting Tuesday for overdue engine repairs. Spare parts are expected to arrive soon, and the ferry will likely remain out of operation for approximately one week. “We continued operating the vessel despite the risks for the sake of passenger convenience. However, with the worsening low tide conditions, managing the vessel has become increasingly challenging, prompting our decision,” sources added.
The affected ferry is scheduled for dry docking early next year. Dry docking occurs on a three-year cycle, and the other ferry underwent this process last August.
The withdrawal of one ferry is poised to inconvenience the many passengers relying on the ro-ro service, which typically conducts between 65 and 75 round trips daily, serving around 5,000 users. Although the usual travel time between Vypeen and Fort Kochi is only three to four minutes, recent conditions have extended this duration significantly.
Published – October 21, 2024 09:59 pm IST
