M V Beypore Sultan India's first river-sea vessel launched from Kochi

Nov. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- The Kochi based LOTS Shipping Ltd has launched its first river sea container vessel, Beypore Sultan designed by Navgathi Marine.

The indigenously built IRS class Type IV River Sea Vessel – M V Beypore Sultan – is capable of carrying 81 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This successful project adds a new credit to Navgathi Marine.

The ship built at the LOTS Shipping Ltd owned yard at Edakochi called Master Shipyard Pvt Ltd is capable of carrying 81 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent units)was launched into the water on November 2 by Minister for Ports K Babu.

Mr. Sandith, Managing Director, Navgathi Marine Design said, “designing M V Beypore Sultan as the first river sea type IV container vessel to be introduced in the West Coast of India was one very challenging project Navgathi undertook.”

When the River-Sea rules were introduced by DG Shipping in 2008, this ship was under construction as an inland vessel. Capt. Philip, CMD of Lots Shipping, was eager to convert the vessel to be built under this new rules to have the capability of going to the sea. What many design firms refused it thinking as impossible, Navgathi, after an initial study said “YES” and made it possible. The vessel had to be designed under lot of constraints based on already constructed condition as well as the lack of clarity in the rules.

Similar river-sea vessels are under construction in Master Shipyard (81 TEU), Century Shipyard (51 TEU) and in design stage a 200 TEU – all by Navgathi.

The Type IV river sea vessel is an all weather vessel that can go any port in the country. The M V Beypore Sultan is the first such vessel being built as the India river sea rules. It can be operated only in Indian waters  within a distance of 12 nautical miles off the shore. Drawing less than three meters of draft with a full load of 1,600 MT this coastal shipping is expected to benefit exporters and importers from the hinterland of minor ports in Kerala such as Beypore, Azhikkal, Thangassery, Vizinjam, Mangalore and Tuticorin apart from reducing the pressure on roads.

Vessel particulars are as below

Length Overall: 61.98m

Depth: 5.0m

Breadth Mould: 12.50m

Capacity: 81 TEU

Engine: Cummins 400Hp@1800Rpm

Flag: India

Classification: IRS class Type IV