- Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first international cruise ship – MV Empress from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai on 5th June.
- With this, the International Cruise Tourism Terminal has started from Chennai.
- This terminal has been built at a cost of about Rs 17 crore 21 lakh.
- This will usher in a new era of maritime tourism and trade in the country. Shri Sonowal along with other port officials also planted 2.5 thousand saplings on Environment Day.
- The modern cruise terminal developed at Chennai Port is spread over an area of 2,880 sqm with a capacity to host 3,000 passengers at a time.
- The cruise service will go to three ports in Sri Lanka, Hambantota, Trincomalee and Kankekanturi. The packages to travel by MV Empress will be for two nights, three nights, four nights and five nights. During the voyage, MV Empress will visit three ports in Sri Lanka before returning to Chennai.
Qns : What is the name of India’s first International cruise ship?
(A) MV Empress
(B) MV Ganga Vilas
(C) M.V. Kavaratti
(D) Lakshadweep Cruise
Ans : (A) MV Empress
