Kochi Ro-Ro ferry service faces uncertain future amid heavy losses and operational woes

Kochi Corporation is mulling termination of its agreement with Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC) for the Fort Kochi–Vypeen Ro-Ro ferry service, driven by persistent financial losses that saddle the civic body with massive subsidies. A finance standing committee audit revealed discrepancies in KSINC’s revenue-expenditure reports, high maintenance costs—including annual dry docking—and the corporation’s obligation to foot the bills, prompting calls for efficient, transparent operations to unlock profitability.

The committee recommends an all-party meeting to decide between sticking with KSINC or issuing open tenders for new operators, potentially shifting to Kochi Water Metro. Compounding woes, one of the two vessels enters dry dock in February, halving service capacity, while a third Ro-Ro ordered from Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for ₹18 crore—contracted November 2024 with an 18-month timeline—remains delivery-uncertain.

Safety and commuter issues plague the route: a recent vessel-barge collision in Fort Kochi’s navigation channel, dilapidated jetty pavements, and uneven service hours—one ferry quits at 8pm, overcrowding the 10pm finisher—have fueled demands for extensions. Originally slated for a special purpose vehicle (SPV), operations defaulted to KSINC due to delays, highlighting governance gaps in this vital short-sea link serving tourists and locals across Vypeen island.

​For maritime stakeholders, Kochi’s Ro-Ro struggles spotlight the thin line between urban ferry viability and logistics potential, echoing broader calls for private tenders to revive feeder services amid Kerala’s port expansions.