Latest Vessel Made In Sri Lanka For Greatship Group Named “greatship Rohini”

Feb. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Today (9.02.2011) for the first time in the history of local shipbuilding industry, Colombo Dockyard named a vessel which will be charted by the owner Greatship Group, for the world renowned Brazilian Oil Company PETROBRAS.The naming ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest Hon. Basil Rajapaksa Minister for Economic Development. The Lady Sponsor of the ceremony was      Dr. (Mrs.) Chandrika Yapa. His Excellency Ashok Kantha High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka, His Excellency K. Takahashi Ambassador for Japan, Vice Admiral DWAS Dissanayake and a host of other Sri Lankan Government Ministry/ Department officials and top corporate officials of the private sector graced this historic occasion. Mr. Mangala Yapa Managing Director/ CEO, Colombo Dockyard welcomed everyone to the event and Mr. Akihiko Nakauchi Chairman Colombo Dockyard and Mr. Bharat Sheth Chairman Greatship India Limited (GIL) spoke at the event.Mr. Ravi Sheth Managing Director GIL, Mr. V Sheshashayee Executive Director GIL, Mr. P.V. Suresh Group Head NC GIL, Mr. David Jamieson, Mr. Chris Tapley, Ms. Nirja Sheth, Mr. Kartik Modi, Mr. Kowshik  participated representing the Owners.

The Vessel
The “Greatship Rohini”, a state of the art, 78m Platform/ROV Support Vessel is the 217th new ship that Colombo Dockyard PLC has built and the 11th large & highly complex vessel that CDPLC has built and delivered, in the short span of 4 years, since it internationalized its Shipbuilding business in 2006.
She is the third of a series of four sister-vessels, the “R” Class Series, designed by SeaTech Solutions International (S) Pte Ltd. of Singapore and being built by Colombo Dockyard PLC. The “R” Class Multipurpose Platform Support Vessel is being well recognized by the international oil and gas industry, as high capacity and high performing vessel with exceptional capabilities, competing with most of the European designs such as Ulstein (UT) and STX designs of similar class. Rohini is particularly unique, as she is the first Platform/ROV Support Vessel, built by us as well as owned by Greatship Group of Companies, with capabilities for attending highly complex deep sea operations, in the Oil & Gas Industry and is also the first vessel built by Colombo Dockyard PLC that will be chartered by world famous PETROBRAS, the world’s fourth largest oil Company, in Brazil. This vessel is equipped with highly sophisticated Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV), with its auxiliary launch and recovery systems. The ROV is an underwater robot, with multifaceted complex maneuvering, used in the offshore industry for various duties on sub-sea structures; hydrocarbon sample extraction, well-head and pipe line inspection, repairs & modification and even damage control work. It is an unmanned, highly maneuverable ROV, operated (in the industry termed as “flying the ROV”) by a team of highly skilled Pilots, located aboard the Vessel. The ROV fitted with many cameras and other sensory devices is connected to the Vessel by an umbilical cable carrying electrical power, video and data signals back and forth between the Operator and the Vehicle.
PETROBRAS will use this vessel for exploration activities in their offshore oil reserves in deep water.
The basic vessel, similar to the first two sister vessels, Greatship Rekha and Greatship Ramya was completed and delivered in early January, 2011 and in response to the emerging market demands and the explicit requirements of PETROBRAS, the Owners, Greatship India Ltd. decided to modify this vessel with additional cranes, A Frames, enhanced accommodation facilities and ROV equipment. Colombo Dockyard PLC willingly undertook to complete such modifications at the shortest possible time. The fourth in the series, Greatship Rashi, too will be modified and join her sister, upond her delivery at the end of February 2011.
The ceremony is to Christine this vessel with her name; Greatship Rohini. She is a modern, Class II DP Vessel, built in total compliance with new SPS (Special Purpose Ships) Code 2008 and Environmental Protection & Crew Comfort notation of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, and is capable of supporting offshore oil and gas exploration and production work, anywhere in the world, an enviable proof to Sri Lankan Shipbuilding & engineering capabilities and promoting our globalization theme “MADE IN SRI LANKA: from here to the World”.

The Ship-owner

Greatship India Limited (GIL), incorporated on June, 2002, is a wholly owned subsidiary of India’s largest private sector shipping company, the Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd., with an illustrious history, spanning over six decades. GIL is in the business of providing offshore oil field services catering to the oil and gas exploration and production domain.
Formed with a view to cater to the needs of Indian market, now the subsidiary is also capitalizing on the global opportunities in the oil & gas exploration and production sector, and is actively seeking to expand its clientele. With global oil majors vying for the company's services, Greatship India Limited is slowly and steadily but surely, carving a niche for itself in the International market.
GIL’s fleet consist of Jack-Up Drilling Rigs, Platform Supply Vessels, Anchor Handling Tug Support Vessels, Multi Purpose Supply and Support Vessels, Platform/ROV Support Vessels, amongst others.
The relationship between Greatship Group of Companies (Greatship India Limited and Greatship Global (Pvt) Ltd.) and Colombo Dockyard PLC has been exceptional and stand as a testimony of the very strong cultural and social connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. This relationship, commenced in 2006, as Colombo Dockyard PLC commenced its internationalization of the Shipbuilding activities, has only grown from strength to strength, based on long-term partnership, mutual respect and transparency and   friendship. So much so that 11 of Greatship Group new acquisitions has been awarded to Colombo Dockyard PLC, and this is the largest number of vessel awarded to a  single Shipyard by Greatship, in its new ship acquisition plan, thus demonstrating the strong bond as well as confidence in each other.
Since the internationalization of its Shipbuilding activities in year 2006, turning a new era in Sri Lanka’s Shipbuilding industry, Colombo Dockyard PLC has built and delivered 10 modern, ocean-going vessels including 4 Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTSVs), 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), 2 Passenger Vessels and 2 Multi-purpose Platform Support Vessels (MPVs). Six of the above vessels; i.e. the AHTSVs and MPSVs were for the Greatship Group of Companies, whilst the OPVs and Passenger Vessels for the Maldivian and Indian Governments, respectively.

Colombo Dockyard PLC

Colombo Dockyard is a blue chip company and is one of the two Sri Lankan companies to be listed in the September 2010 Forbes Financial Magazine, under the 'Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion' category. The Company was also adjudged to be amongst the Top Twenty business entities in Sri Lanka and ranked 6th position in Business Today’s Top 20 awards for performance in year 2009/10, held recently in Colombo. In addition, it has being well recognized by the National Chamber of Exports as the Exporter of the Year for years 2007/8 & 2008/9 and as the Most Value Added Exporter in year 2009/10.

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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.