Cyclonic storms and rough sea conditions in and around the coasts of Kerala and Goa have resulted in the delay of re-opening of floating hotels, popularly known as floatel, in the city post monsoon.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The floatels are anchored for around eight months off Arabian Sea near Bandra-Worli Sea-Link (BWSL) except during the monsoon. They were to be re-opened on the second week of October but the same was delayed due to the prevailing weather.

The Indian Coast Guard had a week ago deployed ships and advised fishermen at sea to return harbour around Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep and adjoining areas due to weather depression over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea.

Chetan Bhende, Managing Director of WB International, also known as AB Celestial, said, "We will start our operations from Monday. Earlier, the plan was to start around October 9 but due to strong waves and winds off Kerala and Goa coast, we were advised to wait and let the waves subside."

Sanjeev Agarwal of SSR Marine Services, that owns the floatel Mumbai Maiden near BWSL, said, "We had plans to start operations last week but could not start it due to little effect of cyclonic storms, however, we are open to bookings starting Friday."

Until May 2018, there were three floatels that were anchored near BWSL but in the last week of May 2018, before the floatel operations were to be suspended for monsoon, one of the floatels started tilting as sea-water started seeping in. Due to this incident, the crew on the floatel had to be evacuated.

Meanwhile, the sea-condition of the coast of Mumbai is said to be silent and all boat services from the Gateway of India has started their ferry services. "There was strong wind like condition on Thursday evening but that lasted only for around 15 minutes probably due to rainfall but rest the sea is calm and it is safe to resume boat services off Mumbai coast," said Jamir, a boat owner from Gateway of India.

On Alert

The Indian Coast Guard had a week ago deployed ships and advised fishermen at sea to return harbour around Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep and adjoining areas due to weather depression