Maldives' first environmentally friendly solar ferry, which is being manufactured as a test run, will arrive in Maldives within April, said the manufacturing company.
The ferry is being built by Navalt, an eco-marine tech company based in Cochin, at a cost of Rs 5 crore (MVR 9.3 million).
Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim had earlier predicted that the ferry would be brought and put to use in the country last year.
The ferry, named "Apollo", will be equipped with 75 solar panels and be built to handle rough seas, Navalt CEO Sandith Thandasherry was quoted as saying by Indian newspapers. The company said it can run in "sea state 5" or seas with wave heights of up to four metres. The ferry, which can accommodate about 75 passengers, will have a speed of 8 nautical miles per hour.
While the ferry is currently undergoing final works it is on schedule to start course to the Maldives during the first week of April.
It has been reported that the vessel would be used for ferry services within the Malé area.
"The order to build the vessel was sent by Maldives' Ministry of Finance. The boat's structure has now been completed. Some internal work and painting work are underway. That will also be completed by March," the CEO said.
"This is the first time we [the company] have built and are exporting a ferry to carry passengers. However he highlighted that a semi-luxury AC ferry with a capacity of ten passengers had previously been supplied to Canada.
Apollo will also reportedly be powered by two 50 kW battery packs and two 40 kW inboard electric motors. The inbuilt electric steering system would reduce maintenance requirements, while the 25 kW solar panel system on top of the vehicle would charge the batteries.
The vessel, which is being built as per the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS class), will be safe and secure, Thandasherry said.
Naval also built India's first solar ferry. The ferry was built eight years ago and with its success, the Kerala State Water Transport Department decided to convert its old ferries to solar ferries.
The tourist cruise vessel, which was launched in Kochi in late April last year, is the largest solar electric ferry in the country and is also a product of Navalt.