[TusharK]

M2M Ferries is set to launch a RoPAX ferry connecting Mumbai and Goa, which is expected to reduce travel time on this popular tourist route to just 6.5 hours.



M2M Ferries, which operates the Mumbai-Mandwa Ro-Ro service, has acquired a 15-year-old RoPAX ferry from Italy. It is currently undergoing maintenance in Mumbai.

The RoPAX ferry can carry 620 passengers and up to 60 cars. It is expected to operate between Ferry Wharf in Mazgaon and the Mormugao Port in Goa. Meanwhile, talks are currently on to allow the ferry to dock in Panaji.

M2M Ferries is awaiting clearance from the Director General of Shipping and other authorities. The company is also seeking fuel subsidies and tax concessions from the government.

Source: Money Control

Link to Team-BHP News

[GTO]

Just like many other Bombay BHPians, I've been on M2M's ferry to Alibagh and it is a top-class operation. Systematic loading, parking & unloading of cars. Many spots to take in the beautiful ocean views. Lots of areas for food & beverages.

They are saying 6.5 hours, but count on 9 - 10 hours door to door. Similar to driving. Even the flight to Goa might be just an hour, but "door to door" is usually 5 - 6 hours (journey to airport, check-in, waiting etc.).

I love the views, so this would be my top way to go to Goa. Get off, use your own car and not get ripped off by taxi cartels. I could even take this ferry one way, and drive on the other leg.

The Mumbai Alibagh M2M is fully branded by Skoda. You have decks & rooms called Kushaq, Octavia, Superb etc.

[Axe77]

I am really looking forward to this although I expect this will be on the pricey side. Mumbai Goa drive really has multiple challenges about it and the ability to go at least one way in your own car / bike to Goa is an inviting proposition indeed. I have wanted to do a (non Goa biased) driving trips around the Konkan belt for a while now, both further south of Goa towards and in KA as well as far north of Goa in MH till Alibag side. If it’s Mormugao port though it does seem to serve South Goa much better than far North Goa.

Taking a ferry to Goa can easily enable something like this where you RoRo to Goa and then drive onward south or reverse back home, without suffering the entire NH 48 mess that is Pune outskirts to all the way till Belgavi and beyond.

At least for me, the boarding point is barely 12 - 15 mins from my home in Mumbai so one can easily reach just 30 mins prior and waste minimal time at least at the Mumbai end of things.

[zyksstar]

This seems to be win-win proposition for Mumbai tourists. Though the overall travel time would be more than the claimed 6.5 hours, it will still be far more relaxing than close to 12 hours drive. Plus with ones own car at disposal, it would be huge relief from the Goa Taxi mafia! And if the also allow to ferry two wheelers too, that would make for an extremely pocket friendly proposition!

[landcruiser123]

Interesting seeing the support on this thread!!! Am I missing something or is this large ferry going actually to average 70 kmph? (assuming 450km straight line distance in 6.5 hours? )

If this ferry succeeds, Indian railways should launch premium service like the Amtrak auto train. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Train

[anilp]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

If this ferry succeeds, Indian railways should launch premium service like the Amtrak auto train. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Train

Indian Railways has already the infra in place to do this since they've had the freight corridor carrying trucks along the Konkan line for many a year. Now, whether they can build on these and extend it to the general public is an unknown.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

Interesting seeing the support on this thread!!! Am I missing something or is this large ferry going actually to average 70 kmph? (assuming 450km straight line distance in 6.5 hours? )

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Not for the ferry in the very first image. That is probably one of the current ferries?

That is 38 knots! It is certainly possible, but I would say its on the high side for a ferry, unless its a cat design. 25-30 knot is probably more realistic. So 25-35 km/h.

Having said that, I love to start our travels with a comfortable ferry ride. Best way to start a trip. With a properly equipped ferry it can be a very relaxing and enjoyable way to start a holiday road trip.

Jeroen

[PreludeSH]

If people take their own cars to drive around Goa, you can expect more irritation to people in Goa !

Its also true that we always want to use our cars as much as possible

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

That is 38 knots! It is certainly possible, but I would say its on the high side for a ferry, unless its a cat design. 25-30 knot is probably more realistic. So 25-35 km/h.

This is the available information - is it enough to identify the vessel and dig up its specifications?

- 15 years old
- Acquired from Italy (not sure if it is same as registered in Italy)
- Capacity of 620 passsengers + 60 cars

[jomyboy]

20 km from Mumbai to Alibaug sets you back about ₹1,000 in fuel for a small car! Now, Mumbai to Goa? That’s a 400 km stretch, and I don’t even want to do the math. Let’s just say, your fuel gauge will be sweating bullets. Once the RoRo ferry rates drop, I’m sure we’ll all be standing shoulder to shoulder with our taxi brethren cartel, shaking our heads in unison!

[humyum]

M2M Ferries is the best way to travel to Alibaug. We had used them while coming back from Alibaug and is it refreshing or what. We drove while going and it was a pain. Traffic jams on narrow roads, highway after Panvel which is so bumpy, it shook our intestines.

The top speed of the m2m ferry from Alibaug to Mumbai was 24 kmph as measured on the GPS app I used to calculate just this. It was generally cruising at 20 - 21 kmph

Even with a 40 kmph top speed like some cruises used to operate before between Mumbai Goa, this is a 10 hour plus journey for sure.

Also to be seen is the cost. For our Crysta, it was 1900 rupees for the car for Alibaug, the distance by ship is 19 kilometers, Goa is 500 plus kilometers. If the charge is super exorbitant for car + passengers, it will never work.

[hikozaru]

I know this is not the biggest concern in an automobile forum but would this not be incredibly ecological destructive. Do ships even have to adhere to any emission norms? What about 15yo ships?

Originally Posted by TusharK

The company is also seeking fuel subsidies and tax concessions from the government.

I don't see why the government should subsidise a private ferry when they already subsidise other forms of public transport like trains and buses.

[GTX+]

Originally Posted by anilp

Indian Railways has already the infra in place to do this since they've had the freight corridor carrying trucks along the Konkan line for many a year. Now, whether they can build on these and extend it to the general public is an unknown.

There is no separate/dedicated freight corridor in Konkan Railway. Most of KR is still single line shared by passenger and freight trains.

[Old_Salt]

Originally Posted by hikozaru

I know this is not the biggest concern in an automobile forum but would this not be incredibly ecological destructive. Do ships even have to adhere to any emission norms? What about 15yo

Yes they do. Two sets of emission and fuel quality requirements are defined as global requirements, and more stringent requirements applicable to ships in Emission Control Areas (ECA). There are regulations which include caps on sulfur content of fuel oil as a measure to control SOx emissions and, indirectly, PM emissions.

Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is allowed provided it meets the applicable sulfur limit (No mandate to use distillate fuels). Alternative measures are also allowed (in the SOx ECAs and globally) to reduce sulfur emissions, like using exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), aka scrubbers.

Here’s today’s pic of our dual exhausts with scrubbers in action

[Jazzybala]

Originally Posted by hikozaru

I know this is not the biggest concern in an automobile forum but would this not be incredibly ecological destructive. Do ships even have to adhere to any emission norms? What about 15yo ships?



I don't see why the government should subsidise a private ferry when they already subsidise other forms of public transport like trains and buses.

One of the main drivers for vehicular pollution is the inherent inefficiency of the combustion technology, per capita. So even if the ferry is a large emmitter, assuming it is operating at nearly 50% capacity, that it pollution from 30 cars doing the same distance, which would be comparable but it would also be moving additional people who are not using their own cars too. Net net, the per capita emmissions would be lower here. I am not even accounting for the fact that marine diesel engines are designed for efficiency first.

Coming to subsidy, why not, if it helps in establishing an alternative method to a "popular" tourist destination that would also allow for other sites to be discovered in the process? The subsidy should not be propping up the business such that the customer experience and operational efficiency becomes secondary to it but otherwise why shouldn't the govt subsidise a new mode of transport just like they subsidise certain air routes?