The shipping industry may still be reeling under the impact of the global economic downturn but Cochin Shipyard Ltd is sailing full steam ahead with its thrust on building high quality vessels.
The country’s largest greenfield shipyard last month launched the tenth of the 20 fast patrol vessels that it is engaged in building for the Indian Coast Guard. The Rs. 1,500 crore-contract for construction of the 20 FPVs for the Coast Guard was signed by CSL in October 2010. So far, CSL has delivered seven FPVs. The seventh of the series of 20 FPVs was delivered in July this year.
These vessels, with capable speed of 33 knots, will provide support to the Indian Coast Guard in anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries protection and monitoring operations. The superstructure of the fast patrol vessels is made of aluminum. To ensure high quality of the vessels, CSL undertook considerable innovation in the welding and fabrication techniques.
The FPV is a small vessel in terms of size compared to the large vessels that CSL usually builds. Measuring 50m in length, it is propelled by water jets powered by three main engines, each of capacity 2,720 KW, and built to dual classification requirements of ABS and IRS.
Apart from the 20 FPVs, CSL is constructing the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, one offshore support vessel for Norwegian owner and one buoy tender vessel for the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships under the Ministry of Shipping.
In 2013-14, CSL delivered five FPVs to the Indian Coast Guard and two high-end platform supply vessels to Norwegian owners. The sixth FPV to the Coast Guard was delivered in May this year. In the last six years, the shipyard has delivered 30 high-end offshore support vessels to the industry. In the last decade, the company exported 40 ships to clients located in West Europe, USA and Saudi Arabia.
Cochin Shipyard Ltd, a Government of India enterprise, is engaged in shipbuilding, ship repair and marine engineering training. The company has capacity to build ships up to 1,10,000 DWT and repair ships up to 1,25,000 DWT.
