Marinas, cruise terminal on the cards

by GLENN COSTA
Posted on 2009-01-26
PANAJI- The state will see yachts and cruise boats besides casino vessels along its palm fringed coast, secluded bays and winding rivers, with preliminary work being done so that a proposal for construction of marinas and cruise terminal can be prepared and readied for approval.
“There is a proposal in the offing,” the deputy captain of ports, Captain James Braganza confirmed.
At present besides the casino vessels there is a small marina in Panaji that offers a range of services to its customers, including water and gas.
This time the government itself has asked that the proposal be put up, unlike the earlier proposal whereupon a private party had put it forward. There was an earlier proposal to put up a cruise terminal too, which was dropped.
To take this forward the government has sought appointment of transactional advisors to look into feasibility of having marinas and cruise terminals. The government has also passed a notification modifying an earlier rule so that now it can go for private-public partnership on land owned by the state or the Centre.
Media reports had quoted Captain Braganza as saying that the port administration is proposing to take up the proposal on the public-private partnership model.
Three locales have been bandied about for the marinas -- Chapora, Tiracol and Sal -- while the cruise terminal could come up at Aguada.
This proposal is in preliminary stage and will be put up after the government appoints the transactional advisors, who would then evaluate feasibility of the proposal.
The concept for marinas makes sense because yacht crew want to come to Goa where they can have small holiday. They can replenish their supplies and also take a long break.
“The marinas will facilitate yachts and sailing boats that seek to break off journey in Goa and will invite a higher class of tourists,” say officials and add that they can expect 30 to 40 boats at any given time.
It may be recalled that reports have said that 100 boats, including yachts, were sold in three days, all worth approximately Rs 30 crore, at the just-concluded Goa International Boat Show, with a majority of the buyers being Goa-based.
Sources say that yacht-parking fees would be much less in the state when compared to other parts of the world. For example Europe parking fees could be at an average of 10,000 euros per day, while Mumbai charges Rs 10,000 per day.
Some timer back there were talks of two Indian and a British company joining hands to set up a marina in Vasco to cater to 400 boats.
Leisure boating company, Aquasail, run by the country’s top sailor, Shakeel Kudrolli, Goa Yatch Haven promoted by Mr Umaji Chowgule, and Britain’s Walcon, a global leader in building marinas, plan to set up a Rs 100 crore facility at Vasco.