CSL to Supply 5 Ships to Shipping Corp, Signs Pact with IHC for Dredgers

 Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) will buy five vessels from Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and issue tenders for buying two used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers as it looks to re-start ship purchases that were frozen after poor financial performance, according to a report in the Live Mint. Both are state-owned entities.

CSL has also signed an agreement with Netherlands-based IHC BV to collaborate on constructing dredgers for the Indian market. Dredgers are specialized ships used to deepen and maintain the channel of harbours.

SCI has approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Cochin Shipyard for the five vessels. The price for the five ships has not been decided yet. 

The five ships to be constructed at Cochin Shipyard includes three anchor handling tug-cum-supply vessels and two platform supply vessels used to support offshore oil exploration activities. 

 IHC, which has vast experience and proven capability to build world class dredging equipment, has been identified as the technology partner through a transparent Expression of Interest (EoI) process by CSL. 

Normally, latest technology dredgers are being imported into the country, but with this initiative world class high technology dredgers can be manufactured at CSL, thus saving valuable foreign exchange. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is building dredgers for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) as part of the efforts towards Make in India campaign.