New Delhi/Mumbai/Daman: The Ministry of Shipping of union government has begun the process for selection of a ferry operator to start ferry/catamaran services in the Arabian sea between Daman and Diu, the union territories adjoining Gujarat.
MoS Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya today said that the tender for the same has been floated by the Shipping corporation of India yesterday. The last date for submitting it was January 24 and the bids would be opened on January 25.
He said that the expression of interest (EOI) related process for the same was completed in September-October this year.

‘The ferry service would reduce the travel time between the two places situated at a distance by road of around 600 from each other; Daman is close to Valsad in South Gujarat while Diu is far away in the coastal Saurashtra region, to 3 to 4 hours as compared to that by road of 10 to 12 hours,’ he said.
A catamaran (informally, a “cat”) is a multi-hulled watercraft.

Meanwhile an official of the SCI said that there is significant traffic movement between the adjoining areas of Daman and Diu by road and rail. This movement is time taking and the routes are extensive because of the geographic peculiarities. The nautical distance between these two locations is quite short in comparison. There is scope for launching a High Speed Craft service between the these locations and this can result in time saving for the passengers, besides the other antecedent benefits of road traffic shift to a more fuel efficient and carbon friendly mode.The tender has been opened for reputed vessel operators/ agencies, interested in providing/operating the High Speed Craft Services between Daman-Diu-Daman. The operating distance is around 106 Nm. The craft shall be operated for eight (8) months of fair weather in a year i.e. October to May. Only those Operator/Agencies which have track record of successfully operating High Speed Passenger Crafts during past three years are eligible. The agency should be in possession of valid ISO certifications for QMS, EMS, OSHAS and valid DOC to operate HSC vessels.

He informed that water connectivity between `Diu and Daman’ can easily be established by starting conventional passenger ferry which usually operates at the speed of 10-15 NM per hour. In such case, it would take around 10-12 hours for travel between `Diu and Daman’ and this travel time is almost same as time taken by existing road transport systems. This high travel time by sea-mode might also result into motion / sea-sickness and thus this option has very poor sustainability. To make water connectivity more attractive to the passengers, the only possible option is to reduce the travel time to the extent possible without sacrificing the passenger comfort. Hence a `High-Speed Craft’ with 30 knot speed is suggested for passenger transport. Most suitable/ best fit boat models could be of 150 pax capacity and cruising speed of 30 nautical miles basically to reduce transit time.

Notably there are two existing jetties on Daman side one Nani and the other in Moti Daman while there was one in Diu near Diu port office.

The Union Territory Administration of Daman & Diu (UTDD) will provide infrastructure viz. existing jetty facilities, waiting lounge, parking space and space for ticket counter and Fixing of fenders, bollards/stand off barriers at the jetty.

The operator shall have the responsibility to provide the ferry service viz., all aspects of acquisition of vessels or leasing, operations including staffing, vessel maintenance, logistics and marketing etc. Mobilization of funds required for the development of the Project, Design, construct, operate and maintain the catamaran (a kind of high speed watercraft service and Facilities, Operation and Maintenance of the Project Facilities as per the standards specified by UTDD, Promotion of the ferry service, Commencement of the Catamaran service in a timely manner, Obtain all necessary clearances from the Government for the operation of catamaran service, Make appropriate payments to UTDD on time as per agreed terms, Handover the Project site along with Facilities to UTDD on completion of the Catamaran service project period.

The term of services shall be 5 (Five) years; and may be extended further by sole discretion of UTDD.

Earlier in October 2017, PM Narendra Modi had started the Ro Ro Ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej port of Gujarat. Its advanced Ro Pax version was started in October this year.