Colombo Dockyard Starts Work On The Second 400 Passenger Vessel For Govt Of India

Oct. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Colombo Dockyard PLC laid the keel marking the commencement of construction of the 2nd 400 Passenger cum 250 Ton Cargo Vessel for the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India at the newly refurbished Steel Work Shop South of Dock No.3, recently (4th October 2012).

The Keel was laid at the auspicious time of 0946 am in the presence Mr. Manish (Counsellor Economic & Commerce), Capt. Sumeet Kapoor (Defence Advisor) from Indian High Commission, Mr. Ajith Senevirathne (Director Merchant Shipping Sri Lanka), Mr. Sirinath Herat (Senior Surveyor-In-Charge Sri Lanka & Maldives Lloyds Register of Shipping), Mr. D.V.D. Prasad Rao (Indian Register of Shipping), Mr. Mohan Ariyarathne (Det Norske Veritas), Mr. Lal Silva (Germanischer Lloyd),    Mr. Maithri Mendis (American Bureau of Shipping), Mr. K. Hirase (Class NK) and Mr. Rolf Bergendahl (Chief Naval Architect, GL Noble Denton). Mr. Mangala P.B. Yapa Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. N. Nishida Director, the senior management and the project management team were present at the occasion.

The ceremony also symbolized the cooperation between many stakeholders of the Sri Lankan maritime community namely, the Director Merchant Shipping Sri Lanka, Classification Societies represented and stationed in Colombo, unanimously participating at the event.

The ceremony also denoted the harmony in which Sri Lanka and India cooperate to the greater benefit of each other, as the first steel welding procedure of the keel laying process was carried out by one of the specialized welders from India under the watchful supervision of Sri Lankan Supervisors. Similarly, the Shipyard demonstrated how effectively and efficiently European high end specifications, high quality material, machinery and equipment can all be integrated in the Shipyard using highly skilled and technically sound workforce.

Following the Keel Laying Mr. DV Abeysinghe General Manager (Projects & Engineering) expressed that “it is a challenging task in hand to construct and deliver two different types of vessels; ie., 2 passenger vessels along with 3 platform supply vessels within the year 2013. He further added “that receipt of drawings approved by the Classification and the Directorate General of Shipping of India without any delay is crucial to the timely completion of the Vessels”. Mr. Abeysinghe further added “the space restriction within the Shipyard possesses an obstacle to the fabrication of increased volume and storage of large number of blocks of all        5 vessels. In addition, another difficulty is the lack of qualified skilled welders and fabricators in Sri Lanka”, he added.    

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 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 maneuverability, 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 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 maneuvering 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 in Colombo Dockyard to build Passenger Vessels will further strengthen the long and cordial relationship, the two countries have enjoyed over the past years.

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