November 13, 2020: It was a landmark day at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) as it launched five (05) vessels at one go from its Building Dock at Kochi and also laid the keel for two (02) vessels. The vessels launched are two 8000 DWT Mini General Cargo Ships for JSW Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd and three Floating Border Outpost Vessels (FBOP) for the Indian Border Security Force. Keel laying was carried out for two more 8000 DWT Mini General Cargo Ships for JSW Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd. CSL achieved this milestone amidst the COVID -19 pandemic by working with available resources with necessary precautions.
The five (05) vessels were launched by Smt Rameetha K, Scientist ‘G’, NPOL (DRDO) wife of Shri Madhu S Nair, CMD, CSL, while Shri Pranab K Jha, VP JSW Shipping and Shri Madhu S Nair, CMD, CSL, did the honours of keel laying for the two (02) new vessels in the presence of Shri Sureshbabu NV, Director(Operations), Shri Bejoy Bhasker, Director(Technical), Shri Jose VJ, Director(Finance) and other officials.
The Mini General Cargo Ships launched today are part of a series of four similar ships being built for the JSW group. These vessels are built and classed under the standards of Indian Register of Shipping. These ships will be used for transportation of dry bulk cargo such as coal, iron ore, dolomite, and limestone. The vessels, with a length of 122 Mtr and height of 7.20 Mtr and speed of 10 knots, will have a compliment of 16 crew. These ships are expected to ply on the Coastal route between Jaigarh Port and Dolvi Steel Plant in river Amba near Dharamtar Port. This programme, once implemented, would trigger one of the largest inland water transport cargo movements in India, which is in line with the Government of India’s vision for the development of the National Waterways.
The three FBOP’s, with a length of 46 Mtr, launched today are part of a series of nine vessels being built for the Water Wing of the Border Security Force. These vessels are designed in-house by CSL & classed by Indian Register of Shipping. Each FBOP is designed with stowage arrangements for four fast patrol boats, which can be launched and hoisted using its own davit system. The vessels will act as a floating base for the flotilla of fast patrol boats and will supply Petrol, Fresh Water and provisions to the smaller boats and are to be deployed on India’s Eastern & Western borders.
CSL is expanding geographically and has commenced Ship Repair Units at Mumbai, Kolkata & Port Blair in addition to its Kochi facilities. CSL is also setting up fully owned subsidiary shipyards at Kolkata (named HCSL) and at Malpe, Karnataka (named TEBMA Shipyards Limited) to cater to the construction of small & medium vessels as well as inland water vessels.
CSL is also augmenting its infrastructure in Kochi and is currently investing around ₹2,800 Crore in the construction of a new 310 M long dry dock at CSL and a ship lift based Ship Repair Yard at Willingdon Island, Kochi.
