Udupi Shipyard launches inaugural vessel of six 3800 TDW General Cargo Vessels built for Norwegian entity

Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., on Monday, launched the inaugural vessel of the Series of 6 3800 TDW General Cargo Vessels being built for M/s. Wilson ASA, Norway.

Udupi Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (UCSL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., on Monday, launched the inaugural vessel of the Series of Six 3800 TDW General Cargo Vessels being built for M/s. Wilson ASA, Norway.

Martine Aamdal Bottheim, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, New Delhi, launched the vessel accompanied by Einar Tornes, Chief Financial Officer of Wilson ASA. CSL Chairman and Managing Director Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Limited; Director (Technical) Bejoy Bhaskar, UCSL Chief Executive Officer A. Harikumar and others were present.

Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Wilson ASA is a leading short sea fleet operator transporting about 15 million tonnes of dry cargo a year across Europe. It operates a fleet of around 130 vessels ranging from 1500 to 8500 DWT. Besides the orders for 6 3,800 DWT vessels with UCSL, Wilson ASA has further signed a follow on order of 8 6300 TDW Dry Cargo Vessels. The projects are under various stages of construction.

While the steel cutting for the vessel under launch was done in December 2023, the keel laying was done in April 2024. It is scheduled to be delivered by February 2025. The vessel, designed by Conoship International, Netherlands, has a length of 89.43 m, breadth of 13.2 m and draft of 4.2 m. It was constructed as an environment-friendly diesel electric vessel with provisions for fixing sails to further enhance fuel efficiency. The vessel with the propulsion power of 750kW would be propelled by 2 electrical motors of 375 kW each. Three Diesel Generators of 416 kW each power the vessel that accommodates seven personnel.

Since the takeover of the M/s Tebma Shipyards in 2020, UCSL Cochin has delivered two 62T Bollard Pull Tugs to Ocean Sparkle Ltd., an Adani Harbor Services Company, and two 70T Bollard Pull Tug to Polestar Maritime Ltd. It has received further orders of four 70T Bollard Pull Tugs as repeat orders from Ocean Sparkle Ltd. (three) and Polestar Maritime Ltd. (one).

Monday’s launch underscores CSL Group’s commitment to the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative, as well as the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ programs of Government of India, Mr. Nair said.