Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (SP)
Mumbai, Mar 15: Punj Lloyd Group, the engineering procurement and construction conglomerate, announced on Friday March 12, the launch of ‘Kuber’, its new pipelay barge capable of laying pipelines in water to the depths of even 150 metres. With the launch of ‘Kuber’, Punj Lloyd has become India’s first and only company to own and operate a world class pipelay barge for offshore constructions.
Falcon Offshore Services (India) Pvt Ltd, of which Mangalore-based Conald J Baptist is the managing director, is providing the shipping agency support services for ‘Kuber – Mumbai’ owned by Punj Lloyd. Baptist is from Jeppu Mangalore, and a neighbourer of the late singing legend, Wilfy Rebimbus, and his company is specialized in providing total offshore support for oil and gas exploration, sub-sea pipelines and offshore constructions.
Punj Lloyd Group’s director, P K Gupta, commenting on the prized asset, said, “Kuber will add a new dimension to Punj Lloyd’s offshore business. This vessel is capable of pipelaying in the western offshore oilfields of the country including the famous Mumbai High oilfields of ONGC. With the introduction of Kuber, the ‘Indian’ content of the offshore pipelay work will increase, as this sector was mainly dependent on foreign pipelay vessels and their workforce so far. The deployment of an Indian flag vessel also would provide price competitiveness for our clients.”
Not only India, ‘Kuber’ is fully geared up to operate in the oil and the gas fields of the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The unique features and remarkable capabilities of ’Kuber’ will provide a competitive edge to the company for offshore pipelaying projects anywhere in the world, it is felt.
‘Kuber’ has a four-storied air-conditioned accommodation block that can accommodate 290 personnel. It is fitted with navigation systems including DGPS, and has a capability to work at sea for prolonged periods.
At the launch of ‘Kuber’, built at China under the supervision of the Indian officials, at the port near the Gate of India, religious rituals like Vastu Puja, Ganahoma, Satyanarayana Puja etc., were performed by Ashok Bhat Kumble, a well known priest from Dakshina Kannada district. Managing director of Punj Lloyd, P K Gupta, inaugurated the ship by lighting the lamp.
H K Kaul, Dilip Mankame of Punj Lloyd, Conald J Baptist and others were present on the occasion.