Government Ferry Route

Havelock Island to Neil Island Government Ferry

DSS runs a daily inter-island government ferry between Havelock and Neil. It is often a connecting leg of the Port Blair - Havelock - Neil sailing. The typical departure from Havelock Jetty is mid-morning (around 8:00 AM) after the morning arrival from Port Blair has disembarked.

Operator

DSS

Duration

1 - 1.5 hours

Frequency

Daily

Fare from

₹350

Departure:Havelock Jetty (Swaraj Dweep)
Arrival:Neil Island Jetty (Shaheed Dweep)
Typical departure times:8:00 AM

About this sailing

Havelock Island to Neil Island -- DSS route details

This is the shortest government ferry crossing available to tourists: 18 nautical miles, journey time roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. Non-islander fares are in the lower band, indicatively around DECK ₹350, BUNK/Spl.DECK ₹620 and O/CABIN ₹820. Islanders pay the subsidised slab (around ₹50, ₹110 and ₹135 respectively). Actual fares are vessel-specific and set by DSS, so do verify the current figure on STARS before booking.

Since this is a connecting sailing, seat availability depends on the upstream Port Blair departure. Book on STARS the moment the 2-day window opens. The Havelock to Neil inter-island quota is usually smaller than the main Port Blair sectors, so act quickly.

Fares

Havelock Island to Neil Island government ferry price

Class	Non-islander fare	Islander fare	What you get
DECK	₹350	₹50	Open-deck entry class -- the cheapest DSS ticket on this sector.
BUNK / Spl.DECK	₹620	₹110	Bunk or special deck class where offered on the assigned vessel.
O/CABIN	₹820	₹135	Ordinary cabin class where offered.

Fares are indicative -- confirm the exact current fare on the STARS e-Ticketing portal before booking. Islander fares require a valid Islander Identity Card.

Booking

How to book this sailing

Smaller inter-island quota on STARS -- secure tickets the moment booking opens (2 days ahead, 9:00 AM).

Online:STARS e-Ticketing, opens 2 calendar days before travel at 9:00 AM IST.
Offline: Counter at Havelock Jetty (Swaraj Dweep), cash only.
Helpline:1800-345-2714.
Max booking size: 10 passengers per day per account.
ID required: Government photo ID for every passenger at booking and boarding.

Full STARS booking guide →

Vessels

DSS ships that run this sector

MV Swaraj Dweep

Government passenger ferry

MV Sentinel

Government passenger ferry

Vessel rotation changes seasonally -- the STARS portal shows the exact vessel for your sailing.

Reliability

What to expect -- and contingencies

Since this is often a connecting leg, if the upstream Port Blair departure is cancelled, this sector also gets affected. Monsoon cancellations are more common.

Private ferry alternative

Consider the private catamaran for this sector

Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic run private high-speed ferries on this route at roughly ₹700-1,200. Crossings are similar in duration (45-60 minutes vs ~1 hour) but private sailings are generally more reliable and bookable online without the 2-day STARS window.

View private ferry options from Havelock Island to Neil Island →

FAQs

Havelock Island to Neil Island government ferry -- questions

Yes -- DSS runs a daily direct sailing between Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), typically departing mid-morning and taking 1 to 1.5 hours.

Per the DSS 2025-26 slab (effective 07/04/2025), non-islander fares on this sector are indicatively DECK ₹350, BUNK/Spl.DECK ₹620 and O/CABIN ₹820, with subsidised Islander rates (₹50, ₹110 and ₹135). Classes offered depend on the vessel, so kindly confirm on STARS e-Ticketing before booking.

Book on the DSS STARS e-Ticketing portal (dss.andamannicobar.gov.in/eticketing) 2 calendar days before travel, or at the Havelock Jetty counter. The inter-island quota is smaller than primary sectors, so book as soon as the window opens.

Ready to book?

For government ferries, head to STARS e-Ticketing. For instant private-catamaran booking, use the search bar above.

Open STARS Portal ↗