Cochin Shipyard breaks into the 'big league'

Kochi, Apr 10 (UNI) Crossing a major milestone, the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) today delivered the first of the six 30000 DWT bulk carriers to the Bahamas-based Clipper Group at a function here today.

The protocol documents were exchanged between Mr S Sreekumar, Director (Operations), Cochin Shipyard and Mr Soren Halsted, Managing Director, Clipper Group.

Speaking on the occasion, CSL Chairman and Managing Director M Jitendran described the event as ''history in making.'' With the on-schedule delivery of the bulk carrier, the CSL joined the club of shipyards capable of fabricating large ships, he added.

Also on the occasion, the keel of the second Platform Supply Vessel for the Norway-based Seatankers Management Group was laid by Ms Kusum Bali, the wife of Kerala Chief Justice V K Bali, who was the chief guest for the function.

Commodore Jitendran said CSL, which had the prestigious aircraft carrier project of the Indian Navy on its order books, had completed work on the first of the six bulk carriers for the Clipper Group in a record time of two years.

Declaring the shipyard was on its way to ''assuming leadership position in this field,'' Cmde Jitendran said the bulk carrier project had helped the shipyard to improve its productivity and credibility and honed the skills of the workers.

He said the short term plans of the shipyard include setting up of ancillary units and investment in the small ship division. The long term plans include expansion of capacity and diversifying into building and repair of very large sized ships.

Chief Justice V K Bali congratulated the officers and workers of the shipyard for their remarkable achievement and said it was heartening to note the CSL had acquired the capability of building large ships for the international market with the quality and workmanship upto the international standards.

Receiving the carrier, Mr Soren Halsted, praised the ''dedicated, motivated and committed'' workforce of the CSL which had built the carrier on time and according to international specifications.

The bulk carrier, designed to carry cargo such as grain, metal concentrates, iron ore, scrap metal, coal, bauxite, salt and sugar, was nearly 178.70 meter long with a gross tonnage of more than 19,000. It will have a speed of 14.30 knots.

The CSL had signed the contract for building six 30000 DWT bulk carriers for the Clipper Group in January, 2004.

UNI ARC GM 1820