The second and concluding day of THE WEEK Maritime Conclave showcased a notable presentation by Neo Classic Cruise and Tours, spearheaded by Managing Director Nishyijith K. John and expert Jithu Sukumaran Nair. The highlight was the unveiling of India’s first indigenously designed cruise ship, dubbed the ‘Ferrari of the Sea.’ This vessel boasts a remarkable 30MW battery capacity and can operate on integrated LNG for three consecutive days, in addition to its default diesel fuel. With its base in Kerala, a region rich in LNG resources, the ship aims to set new standards in luxury cruising.
Jithu Sukumaran Nair, also the CEO of VAAN Electric Moto, expressed excitement about this public debut, which was met with enthusiastic applause. He elaborated on the ship’s engineering marvels and luxurious features, emphasizing Neo Classic’s ambitious vision. The company plans to own and operate luxury cruise ships ranging from 500 GT to 37,000 GT within a decade, aspiring to capture a 30% share of India’s cruise tourism market and collaborate with state-owned enterprises to establish an International Cruise Technology and Culture Expo Park.
As Kerala positions itself for international luxury cruise tourism, it stands to benefit from its extensive inland waterways, offering a “market-leading advantage.” Nair indicated that this strategy aims for rapid profitability by 2030, aligning with the broader ‘Vision 2030’ for the Cruise Bharat Mission. The summit also featured insights from AK Bansal of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, who emphasized the importance of enhancing last-mile connectivity through waterways, alongside updates from Antara Cruises Chairman Raj Singh regarding the cruise tourism landscape.
THE WEEK Maritime Summit 2025 took place on September 15 and 16 at The Crowne Plaza in Kochi, a key port city in Kerala. The event was set to culminate with a speech from Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, further underscoring the significance of maritime development in the region.
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