Two more vessels to join Andaman shipping fleet

Port Blair, Jul 21 (UNI) In all two more crucial vessels, MV Lapathy and MV North Bay, built in GRSE Kolkata, were commissioned in the fleet of Andaman's Shipping Services today.

The Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr Bhopinder Singh, commissioned both the vessels in the presence of the Chairman-cum- Managing Director of GRSE Ltd, Admiral (Retd) K C Shekhar.

These two vessels, which are vehicle ferries with 65 passenger capacity each, will be pressed into service on Phoenix Bay-Chatham- Bambooflat route, Andaman's Shipping Department, sources said.

Both vehicles will of immense use for these far-flung scattered islanders, the Lt Governor told the gathering after commissioning the vessels.

He said other vessels ordered as part of acquisition plan of the Department of Shipping Services are nearing completion at various Shipyards in mainland and are expected to join the fleet in coming months.

While the first vessel named MV Bambooka is ready for delivery and likely to sail for Port Blair very soon the second one christened as MV North Passage is in the final stage of completion and is expected by August, sources informed.

Two, 65 pax-cum-vehcile ferry, have already joined the Shipping fleet of the Islands. Similarly, the 400 passenger capacity vessel under construction, with M/S Alcock Ashdown Gujarat Ltd is expected by the end of this year, sources added.

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