The all-weather passenger ship, m.v. Kavaratti, built for the Lakshadweep administration by Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam, will make its maiden voyage to the islands in the first week of August, 2008.The Rs.173-crore ship, the largest passenger vessel ever built in India, is 120 Meter long and has a speed of 17 Knots. The ship can carry 700 passengers and 200 tons of cargo. The ship has world-class facilities like a 152-seater cafeteria, 100-seater dining hall, Recreation room, gymnasium and a very large airspace to enhance passenger convenience on-board. The ship is fully Air conditioned by centralized air-conditioning system and has been built to world class standards. The ships have cafeteria, snack bars, doctor on call, entertainments and upper-deck promenade. Ship facilities include three independent galleys, halls, recreation place with a swimming pool and a helipad.

The ship has 100 Deluxe Berths (2 Berths in each room) and has 70 First Class Berths (4 Berths in each room) available for 'Coral Reef' tourists. The ship was designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) located in the port city of Visakhapatnam on the East coast of India. HSL is a fully owned Government of India Undertaking, under the Administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping, Road and Highways.

According to Rear Admiral Ajit Tewari, the HSL Chairman and Managing Director, “M.V.Kavaratti is a fine piece of work created by our workforce. This is the first of its kind built by any yard in the country with own designing. The vessel has 300 km of wiring and 50 km of pipeline with delicate craftsmanship which typify the scale in which it has been built.” [Read More Here: New Ship to Lakshadweep Islands, June 27, 2008]