Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Oct 28: Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL) has launched a 99-metre cargo vessel, the largest ship built at its Malpe yard since its incorporation in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the shipyard's growth.
The 6,300-deadweight-tonne (DWT) dry cargo vessel, the first of eight being built for Norway-based Wilson ASA, is valued at around 15 million euros. The vessel, designated UY-175 and named 'Wilson Energy 1', was launched by Wilson ASA chairman Eivind Eidesvik and his daughter Anna Eidesvik.
The contract was signed in June 2024, with the first vessel scheduled for handover in December.
UCSL CEO Harikumar A. said the launch marked a major achievement for a yard primarily designed to build vessels measuring between 80 and 90 metres. Designed by Dutch firm Conoship International BV, the vessel was constructed as a complete unit, partially dismantled for transfer to the launching site and subsequently reassembled.
The unconventional construction method is a first for both the yard and the Indian shipbuilding industry.
The vessel has a moulded breadth of 15.8 metres and a cargo hold volume of 3,16,278 cubic feet. It weighed approximately 2,200 tonnes at launch and is capable of carrying general cargo, bulk cargo and containers.
Harikumar said the vessel's diesel-electric propulsion system would provide improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. The ship can also be retrofitted with wind foils and is equipped with a bow thruster to facilitate manoeuvring in confined spaces during berthing and unberthing.
Construction of the second vessel in the series is under way, while the keel of the third has been laid. Steel cutting for the fourth vessel was also carried out on Monday. Harikumar said UCSL expected to complete the entire series before the monsoon in 2028.
He added that the yard had delivered all its vessels on or before schedule, describing the achievement as a notable record among the country's shipyards.
Norwegian Ambassador to India May-Elin Stener said maritime cooperation between India and Norway extended beyond shipbuilding contracts to include Norwegian companies supplying components and technology to the industry.
Around 160 Norwegian companies operate in India, approximately 70% of them in the maritime sector. Stener said Norway's expertise and technology complemented India's scale and growing shipbuilding capabilities. She added that maritime cooperation remained a key component of the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) economic partnership agreement.
Vijay Kumar, secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, reaffirmed the ministry's support for UCSL's expansion and highlighted the importance of maritime cooperation between India and Norway.
Harikrishnan S., director of operations at Cochin Shipyard Limited, said UCSL had delivered nine vessels over the past year.
UCSL had earlier delivered six 3,800-DWT dry cargo vessels to Wilson ASA, each measuring approximately 89 metres in length. The latest launch represents a further step in the shipyard's efforts to expand its capabilities and undertake the construction of larger vessels.