National Maritime Day celebrated in Tuticorin

The Tuticorin Port Trust celebrated the National Maritime Day with pomp and gaiety on Thursday, to commemorate the maiden voyage of S S Loyalty, India's first merchant vessel, from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919.

In a function held at Berth 8, tugs and pilot launches of the port displayed their prowess.

The tugs that graced the `sail past' function included the recently procured M T Tuticorin, with a 45 tonne Bollard Pull capacity, from Tebma Shipyards.

The others were M T Pearl City (10 Tonne Bollard Pull capacity), M T Thiruvalluvar (32 Tonne Bollard Pull), M T Indira Gandhi (30 Tonnes Bollard Pull Capacity).

The pilot launches that attended the show were Veera Vanchi and M L Tuticorin.

Cultural programmes and games were organised to mark this occasion.

Amritavalli Raghupathy, wife of the Chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust, N. K. Raghupathy, gave away the prizes to the winners of cultural and literary competitions conducted as part of the National Maritime Day celebrations for school children.

Earlier, Ms. Raghupathy placed a wreath at the memorial of sailors who died in harness, in the City.

Source: The Hindu