Kochi: Golden Cruiser Lines has signed an agreement with Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) for starting a passenger ship service between Thiruvananthapuram and Colombo.

The agreement for the purpose was signed between KSINC managing director K N Satheesh and Golden Cruiser Lines proprietor Felix Chandra in the presence of Kerala Transport Minister R Balakrishna Pillai on Sunday. KSINC is a government-owned shipping company.

Xavier D''Cruz of Leans Lines will act as the agent of the Golden Cruiser in India. The passenger ship service will operate thrice a week from Vizhinjam Harbour to Colombo. It will have a capacity of 500 passengers. The fare will be half the flight fare. The ship will also have all the services that are available on a flight.

The ship will cover the distance between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi in six hours. The fully air-conditioned ship will have a duty-free shop and a bar. A passenger can carry free luggage of 100 kg.