Kochi Marina
Encyclopedia
The Kochi International Marina is a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....

 in the city of Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

, in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It is located in the eastern coast of the Bolgatty Island (one of the islands part of the city of Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

), in the premises of the Bolgatty Palace
Bolgatty Palace
Built by the Dutch in India, Bolgatty Palace is located on the island popularly known as Bolghatty Island in Kochi, Kerala. One of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, this quaint mansion, built in 1744, by Dutch traders, was later extended and gardens were landscaped around it...

, a 'heritage hotel'.

The Kochi Marina is the only marina in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It is owned by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities of the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvanathapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts,...

. The marina provides berthing facility for yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...

s and also offers services like fuel, water, electricity and sewage pump-outs for boats. The marina is close to the international maritime route at the south west coast of the Indian Peninsula, with favorable conditions and minimum tidal variations throughout the year.

General description

The Kochi International Marina started operations on April 24, 2010. It is the first full-fledged marina of international standards in India.

The Marina is owned and operated by KTDC
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities of the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvanathapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts,...

. It was implemented by KITCO
KITCO India
Kitco is the first technical consultancy organisation in India established by the government.-History:Formerly known as Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation, KITCO Ltd was set up in 1972 to speed up the industrialization process in the state of Kerala. It was with initiative of...

 (Formerly Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation)for and on behalf of KTDC
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities of the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvanathapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts,...

. Sharjah’s Hamriyah Free Zone-based Gulf Marinas did the construction under the supervision of KITCO
KITCO India
Kitco is the first technical consultancy organisation in India established by the government.-History:Formerly known as Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation, KITCO Ltd was set up in 1972 to speed up the industrialization process in the state of Kerala. It was with initiative of...

. The Marina is now managed by Mumbai based Ocean Blue.

The Kochi Marina houses facility for berthing around 34 yachts. This will be further upgraded to 50 berths. Construction of a three-storey building on the north-eastern side of the Bolghatty Palace hotel to accommodate sailors from across the world is complete. KTDC had spent Rs 8.21 crore on Phase -1 of the project with a central assistance of Rs 4 crore. A two-lane road connecting the main land with the island is also ready. Repair and maintenance facilities for the yachts also available at the Marina.

Kochi is an ideal berthing spot for yachts from the West, crossing Suez Canal and travelling towards the north eastern parts of Asia. Currently, there are no intermediate berthing facilities for yachts leaving Dubai until they reach their destinations in the Far East. Situated just 11 nautical miles from the international maritime route, Kochi has one of the best natural ports in Asia where Dubai Ports World is building an international container transshipment terminal.

Kochi recently became a touching place of Luxury cruise lines. During the last one decade, Kochi had become a major destination for sea-based adventure tourism. On an average 100 yachts visit Kochi every year of which majority is from European countries such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

 apart from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The Cochin Port Trust
Cochin Port Trust
The Port of Kochi is a major port on the Arabian sea - Indian Ocean sea-route and is one of the largest ports in India. The port lies on two islands in the Lake of Kochi namely the Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam, towards the Fort Kochi river-mouth opening onto the Arabian sea...

is also building a cruise terminal on the nearby Willington Island. Since Kochi is the nearest port on the international maritime route between the west and the east more adventurous seafarers prefer this port.

Facilities

The marina will have facilities to repair yachts and for filling fuel and food items. Facilities like golf course, swimming pool, spa, health club, restaurant and beer parlour will also be provided for the sailors.

Floating docks built on concrete beams is the major attraction of the project. A board walk - wooden structure protruding into the back waters in order to facilitate other tourists to see the yachts has also been arranged.

Additional 16 docks would be added in the next phase and additional facilities would be provided on 2 acres of reclaimed land adjacent to the island.http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kochi-marina-set-to-start-operations/392303/

Marina House

Marina House, built in the traditional Kerala architectural style, is an essential part of Kochi International Marina that serves as a station for vessels to refuel and to replenish their stores. Besides, the Marina House also provides 24 deluxe rooms including 4 suite rooms, a recreation centre and cafeteria, will be managed by Tourists ResortsKerala Limited, a subsidiary of KTDC http://%5Bhttp://www.business-standard.com/india/news/kochi-marina-set-to-start-operations/392303/%5D.
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