Sri Lanka gets Indian cruise liner

May 05, 2011 (LBO) - An Indian cruise ship owned and operated by a Chennai-based AMET Shipping India will start calling at Sri Lankan ports in May offering cruises starting at 10,000 Sri Lankan rupees a night, officials said.





The cruise service is being launched not only to cater to tourists but also to train cadets of the maritime university, AMET (Academy of Maritime Education and Training) university group, which owns AMET Shipping India.

AMET Shipping chief executive P Bharathi said the vessel MV Amet Majesty will operate from harbours in India's eastern and western coasts, shifting routes and ports of calls to avoid the region's twin monsoons.

Regular cruise calls will start once the ship, acquired from Star Cruises, is fully refurbished.

The vessel will also provide onboard training for university cadets, Bharathi told a news conference in Colombo.

"The academy has to give placements to 400 cadets a year.

So we decided the best option is to go for a cruise ship to train students and bring tourists at the same time.



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The vessel will operate from the Indian ports of Chennai, Mumbai, Goa and Cochin.

The ship has 267 cabins and nine decks of which decks 4-9 will be for passengers.

It also ha