Colombo Dockyard To Build A 100 Passenger Launch For The RDA At The Newly Setup Kelani River Yard

July 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Colombo Dockyard PLC commenced initial work on the construction of the 100 Passenger Launch for the Road Development Authority, on the 20th of July 2010.
The simple ceremony for the deck laying was attended by Mr. D.M.P.R.K. Bandara (Director Procurement), Mr. V. Tharmakulasingham (Additional Project Director) representing the RDA, Mr. Shantha Weerakone, Mr. Ajith Senevirathne representing the Directorate of Merchant Shipping and Mr. Praveen Mishra and Mr. A. Alahakone representing the Classification Society IRS.
Mr. Akihiko Nakauchi (Chairman), Mr. Mangala Yapa (MD/CEO), Mr. Y. Kijima (Director) Mr. T.G. Weerasinghe (GM, DGES), Mr. R.D.J. Sumanasiri (Special Projects Manager) and a host of other senior management officials of Colombo Dockyard participated at the ceremony.
Today’s event marks an important milestone, as this is the first project to kick off the ground at Colombo Dockyard’s newly acquired ‘Kelani River Yard’. Colombo Dockyard’s expansion of facilities to the ‘Kelani River Yard’ for construction of small ships and for pre-processing of steel plates and pipes intended for large ship construction will most certainly ease the congestion within the main Shipyard premises and will increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the yard.
The highlight of the proposed Passenger Launch is that, it is designed and shall be built complying with modern Passenger Launch building practices, which will provide a safe and comfortable platform to the users. The Passenger Launch will be suitable for operation in the roughest weather conditions that may be encountered on the way in the Indian Ocean and will be a boost to the small fleet of Launches that are presently in operation and will certainly bring in great relief to thousands of northern commuters during this post war era.
The Passenger Launch shall be of all steel construction with a seating capacity for 100 passengers. The Launch will be powered by two main engines driving two propellers and will have a cruising speed of 10 knots and an endurance of 100 nautical miles.
RDA plans to deploy the Passenger Launch for transferring civilians from Kurikadduvan jetty of Punguduthive of Jaffna peninsula to Delft island. The approximate distance is 8 nautical miles one way. The Launch will be able to operate 12 nautical miles from coast and within 50 nautical miles from a harbour.

# # #

Colombo Dockyard PLC is the island's leading Ship repair, Shipbuilding and Heavy Engineering facility, conveniently located inside the very Port of Colombo operates 4 graving dry-docks with a maximum capacity of 125,000 Dwt.