‘MV Costa Venezia’ makes maiden visit at Mormugao Port

VASCO: The Mormugao Port hosted luxury cruise liner ‘MV Costa Venezia’ of Costa Cruises, which was on maiden visit to Goa on Wednesday, bringing in 3,738 guests involving 2,497 tourists and 1,241 crew.

Till date from September 10, 2018 with the kick start of cruise liners to the state, Mormugao Port has hosted 30 luxury cruise liners for the current season.

‘MV Costa Venezia’ which was on a maiden visit to Mormugao Port has brought the tourists from different nations like China (276), Hong Kong (268), Switzerland (244), Germany (214), Brazil (162), Italy (150), France (143), and Britain (130).

The cruise liner has arrived from Khor Al Fakan Port in Sharjah in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday morning and it sailed on its onward voyage to the Cochin Port later in the evening.

The traffic manager MPT Vipin Menoth along with senior officials of the Port including chief vigilance officer (IOFS) Vijaya Dat Kagita, chief medical officer (MPT hospital) Dr Nimish Pillai, secretary (I/C) S P Mohan Kumar, harbour master Capt Arun Kumar and other executives visited the cruise liner.

They were extended a warm welcome by the master of the cruise liner Capt Tihomir Muzic. A plaque exchange ceremony was held on board the cruise liner, being the maiden call of the cruise ship to the Mormugao Port.

The traffic manager MPT Menoth extended warm welcome on behalf of 1700 employees and 4500 pensioners of the Port. “We sincerely acknowledge that Costa cruises are one of our premium clients and seek their continued patronage.  During the next cruise season we are expecting around 14 vessels of Costa cruises to visit the Port. We are thrilled on your visit here, because it’s a first Port of visit in India during your maiden cruise. We sincerely believe this visit will augur well for you and we will be a good omen to bring prosperity in future.  The Mormugao Port is in the process of setting up a state-of-the-art cruise terminal in the near future, and we hope you will consider Mormugao Port to be your home Port in future. MPT has rationalised its tariff and have made it easy for cruise operators. We extend facilities to the family members of the crew to visit the port during the cruise chips stay in Port to facilitate family bonding.”

Capt Muzic of ‘MV Costa Venezia’ said, “This is our first visit to an Indian Port and after visiting other ports  and countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia,  Singapore, Thailand, Japan,  we will arrive in Shangai on May 18, where the ship will be based. As you know Costa cruises were always visiting Chinese Ports, but, now we are exploring other Indian Ports.”

India will be our future cruise market and I am happy and pleased to be here.  We also have many Indian officers and crew on board, he added.