Sri Vijaya Puram | March 8, 2026
The Directorate of Shipping Services has raised concerns over the frequent boarding of overloaded trucks on vehicle ferry vessels operating between Middle Strait and Baratang, stating that the practice is causing serious damage to ferry loading ramps and disrupting safe operations.
According to the Directorate, vehicle ferry vessels such as MV North Bay and MV Lapathy are designed to accommodate a maximum load of 11–12 tonnes at a time on their loading ramps, as per their design and stability specifications. However, authorities have observed that trucks carrying loads exceeding 25 tonnes, including vehicle weight and cargo, are attempting to board the ferries, which is far beyond the permissible limit.
Officials said the excessive load has led to repeated damage to the ramps, sudden breakdowns of ferry vessels and interruptions in ferry services on the route. These disruptions have also caused inconvenience to the general public who rely on the ferry services for daily transportation.
In view of the situation, the Directorate has advised truck owners, transporters and drivers to strictly adhere to the 12-tonne load restriction while using vehicle ferry services on the route. Authorities have warned that vehicles violating the prescribed limit will not be permitted to board the ferries.
