The United States-based Sam Link Group will launch a ferry catamaran service between Mumbai and Goa in the next 15 days and is planning to start passenger ship service to Maldives and UAE within the next one year.

"We will start the catamaran service between Mumbai and Goa in the next 15 days and from Bhavnagar, Pipvaha and Diu to Goa in next six months," its chairman Gautam Gupta told PTI in Ratnagiri.

He said the company would make a capital expenditure of about $100 million for starting the ferry services along the Gujarat and Goa coasts, and services to Maldives and UAE would be subject to government approvals.

The company has plans to purchase 10 vessels including five ships and five catamarans.

The Mumbai to Goa catamaran will have a capacity of 225 passengers and would take about eight hours for a one-way journey, he said, adding it would cost Rs 1,700 for the economy class and Rs 2,000 for the executive class.

The voyage to UAE and Maldives by ship would take about 40 hours and would be for passengers who want to take a night cruise.

A similar ferry service between Mumbai and Goa was earlier operated by Damania Group and Mughal Lines a few years back before it was discontinued.