Key Facts About the Ferry Service

Route
  • The ferry runs between Kankesanthurai (KKS) in northern Sri Lanka and Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • This is roughly a 110 km (60 nautical mile) route.
Operator & Vessel
  • Operated by IndSri Ferry Services in cooperation with the Shipping Corporation of India.
  • The vessel is a high-speed craft named Cheriyapani.
  • It has a capacity of ~150 passengers.
Start / Resumption Date
  • The service was relaunched on 14 October 2023.
  • It was temporarily suspended earlier (e.g., due to monsoon) but has resumed.
Strategic Importance
  • This ferry reconnects a maritime link that was inactive for decades and is seen as a boost to tourism, trade, and people-to-people connectivity
  • The Indian government is subsidizing port operation costs to make the service viable.
Journey Time
  • The trip takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on sea conditions.

Things to Be Careful About / Consider

Seasonality

The ferry may be affected by weather conditions (especially during monsoon seasons).

Ticketing

Some reports suggest that ticketing systems or online booking may be difficult / not very user-friendly.

Luggage Limits:

While you get 40 kg free, very large baggage might be problematic or more expensive.

Immigration / Visa

Make sure to check what kind of visa is accepted on this ferry route — some travelers report that certain visa types (e.g., e-visas) may not be accepted "They will not accept e-visa … you should have used that same visa to enter India via any other airport"

Reliability

According to some travelers, there have been cancellations or breaks for maintenance / safety