Engine failure delays Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai ferry by over four hours

Engine failure and rough sea conditions delayed the arrival of the passenger ferry service from Kankesanthurai to Nagapattinam by more than four hours on Friday (May8, 2026) night, triggering anxious moments for relatives waiting at the Nagapattinam port.

The ferry, which departed Kankesanthurai at 2.30 p.m., finally reached Nagapattinam port around 10.45 p.m., taking more than eight hours to complete a journey that usually lasts about four hours.

The vessel was carrying 144 passengers, including around 45 foreign nationals. According to sources, the ferry developed engine failure near Kallar, about two nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast, and remained stranded at sea for some time amid rough weather conditions.

Fishermen from the coast were pressed into service to assist the vessel after authorities were alerted. The ferry was later towed slowly towards the port and reached safely late in the night.

Sundararaj Ponnusamy, Chairman and Managing Director of Subham Group, which operates the service, told The Hindu that the incident was a “rare case” caused by an engine failure. “The weather is rough and this was a rare case. We immediately informed all the relevant authorities and arranged fishermen to assist in towing the vessel. The ferry was brought safely to the Nagapattinam port and all passengers inside were safe,” he said.

The ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, relaunched to strengthen passenger connectivity between Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka, has emerged as a key transport link for tourists, pilgrims and families travelling between the two regions.