Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Monday, 24 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) on Friday delivered the first-ever modern Cable Laying Vessel built for Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. (KCS) Japan attended by a host of dignitaries. This is the biggest-ever vessel, price-wise as well as length-wise, built by Colombo Dockyard in its illustrious journey of shipbuilding excellence and the first ever ship built ‘in its class’ from Sri Lanka to Japan. 
Ports and Shipping Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka officiated at the launch. Representing Colombo Dockyard Chairman Hideaki Tanaka, Vice Chairman Sarath De Costa, Managing Director and CEO D.V. Abeysinghe, Director K. Kanaya, Technical Advisor Y. Saki, General Manager (SB) Lal Hettiarachchi, General Manager (New Construction) Thimira Godakumbura, AGM (Special Projects) S.D. Gilbert and the entire corporate management team and staff participated.
This Cable Laying Vessel is 113.1 m in length, 21.5 m in breadth, 8.8 m depth, with a maximum load laying draught of approx. 7.1 m has a deadweight carrying capacity of 5,757 DWT and a speed of 14.5 knots with accommodation facilities for 80 persons.
This vessel is a modern, high technology vessel, which is intended for subsea operation and cable installation and repair works of ‘optical cables’ as well as ‘power cables’ adding to the versatility of the vessel. For the handling of power cables, the forward tank has been fitted with a carousel system with a Spooling Arm.
The vessel is specially designed and equipped with a focus on maintaining good sea keeping ability and excellent station keeping performance. Passive roll reduction tanks help minimise the effect of ship rolling.
The vessel has many special features including low resistance hull lines designed for higher speed and low fuel consumption. The vessel is also extremely eco-friendly. High tech systems are in place to reduce harmful emissions complying with IMO Global Sulphur Cap 2020 requirements, waste storage solutions, water ballast treatment systems, eco-subsea coating solutions etc.
The vessel is diesel electric driven and has optimised power, which is another key feature. Power is provided by four generator sets, developing 2,300 kW each. Three generators out of the four available are sufficient to cope with the highest propulsion power demands, ensuring high reliability.
Transit at economic speed with two engines efficiently running will optimise fuel consumption. The vessel shall have a bollard pull of 80 tons with a range of 10,000 nautical miles and has Dynamic Positioning capability to Class 2 for precision manoeuvring and station keeping.
The basic design and production drawings for the construction were supplied by VARD Designs, Norway. The vessel has flexible operational capabilities and provides a comfortable platform for the operational personnel and the interior design of the vessel is aesthetically appealing.
The vessel’s material, equipment, construction, quality and performance conform to the highest internationally accepted marine industrial norms and standards. This vessel is built to Class NK classification society standards and meets the regulatory requirements of the Japanese Government (JG requirements).
The delivery of this modern-day highly sophisticated Cable Laying Vessel is a testament to the pride and dedication exhibited by Colombo Dockyard’s shipbuilding team and Colombo Dockyard is honoured to be building this type of new class of vessels for its deployment around the world and demonstrates Colombo Dockyard’s proven capability to design, construct and deliver large, complex vessels to international markets as well as domestic market.
Colombo Dockyard PLC is a flagship investment of Japan and operates in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company Ltd. of Japan. The Sri Lankan Government institutions hold more than 35% stake in the company. Colombo Dockyard is Sri Lanka’s front runner of its industrialisation drive.
