Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has launched a solar-powered tourist boat called Sooryamshu that can produce 27 KW of energy.
The boat also comes equipped with generators, which will help power passenger lift systems and air-conditioners.
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.
However, the Kadamakkudy package will be delayed due to the Kerala State Electricity Board’s low-lying cables which will hinder the boat’s smooth passage on some parts of the route.
KSINC’s Managing Director, R. Girija, stated that they are working with the Board officials to resolve the issue.
KSINC’s other tourist boats, 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.
