Dockyard begins building its biggest vessel for Indian Govt.

Colombo Dockyard PLC on Friday laid the keel, to mark the commencement of construction of the largest vessel in its history of Shipbuilding, a 400 Passenger cum 250 Ton Cargo Vessel for the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India.

This is the first vessel of a series of two vessels that has been ordered by the Government of India.

The Keel was laid at the auspicious time of 0827 am, in the presence Mr. Manish (Counsellor Economic and Commerce, Indian High Commission), Capt. Sumeet Kapoor (Defence Advisor, Indian High Commission), Srinath Herat (Lloyds Register of Shipping), D.V.D. Prasad Rao (Indian Register of Shipping). Akihiko Nakauchi Chairman, Mangala P.B. Yapa Managing Director/CEO, N. Nishida Director, the senior management and the project management team of Colombo Dockyard were present at the occasion.

Once completed, these vessels will be deployed to cater to the increased traffic en-route from the Main Land (Cochin) to UTL Islands, as well as in the inter island routes. The addition of these vessels will ease the movement of passengers especially during peak season.

These being the second series of passenger vessels to be built by Colombo Dockyard, these vessels will be superior to the earlier two, incorporating the learning from the previous, setting new benchmarks for passenger/cargo transportation used by the UTLA.

These being passenger vessels, the shipyard will take extra stringent quality control and great care on safety measures, in order to ensure the vessel’s appropriateness in material and machinery and these vessels shall be built to meet all applicable IMO, SOLAS and Special Trade Passenger Ship Rules of the Indian Flag Administration.  

The vessel designed by world renowned ship design firm, GL Noble Denton of Norway (formerly known as Brevik Engineering) and the detailed design engineering performed by Neilsoft Ltd of India has converged specialists in their respective fields to achieve the best design solutions. The vessel shall be dual classed meeting class rules of Lloyds Register of Shipping, Indian Register of Shipping and statutory rules applicable for a vessel of this type.

The Vessel shall be powered by two Japanese made YANMAR Main Engines each developing a propulsive power of 1920 kW, driving two Swedish made BERG Controllable Pitch Propellers with 3m diameter. This combination provides a high level of manoeuvrability, optimum efficiency and economic operation for the Vessel.

The accommodation spaces in this Vessel, shall consist of, private space, office space, sanitary space, catering space and other spaces. The Passengers will have different categories of accommodation. There will be 10 first class, 40 second class and 350 normal class passenger transportation facilities. All these passenger compartments shall be fully air conditioned using an air conditioning system consisting of central air handling unit and refrigerating plant, designed on the basis of environment friendly refrigerant chilled water system.   

Well designed and well laid out wheelhouse is ought to provide excellent visibility of the horizon, where the Master and the bridge crew will have unobtrusive view right around the vessel for ease of navigability. Navigation and communication electronic equipment shall be predominately supplied by European and Japanese Makers to increase reliability and to ensure uninterrupted spare part and service support during the life span of the vessel. The vessel so designed, shall be a perfect blend of high tech and elegance, and could be considered as one of the most environmentally friendly vessels to be built by Colombo Dockyard, which indeed will be a positive feature considering the un-spoilt terrain of the Lakshadweep Administration in which these vessels are intended to be operated.  

As the vessels hull design has been based on slender outlines, the vessel features very low fuel consumption and shall have outstanding manoeuvring and sea keeping capabilities with low noise and vibration levels which will also increase the comfort of the passengers and crew of the vessel. The Vessel is to be manned by a crew of 69 who will also be provided with comfortable and elegant living quarters matching the world standards available on a vessel of this class.  

The fact that the Indian Government placed its utmost confidence once again in Colombo Dockyard to build these Passenger Vessels, just a year after delivery of the two Passenger Vessels (MV Arabian Sea and MV Lakshadweep Sea), is a clear testimony of the maturity and the status that Colombo Dockyard, has achieved in the field of Shipbuilding in the region and will further strengthen the long and cordial relationship, the two countries have enjoyed over the past years.