Nitin Gadkari dedicates Buoy Tender Vessel to the nation

KOCHI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today dedicated to the nation a Buoy Tender Vessel built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) here.

CSL had delivered the vessel 'Indira Point' to the Directorate General Of Light Houses and Light Ships yesterday, two months ahead of the contractual delivery schedule.

This is a specialized multi-purpose ship which will be used for transportation and placement of Buoys in position at deep seas/ recovering and maintenance of buoys/ towing and mooring of light vessels/ distress management/ transportation of equipment and materials in containers, for repair of light houses in remote islands, CSL said in a press release.

The vessel is Rolls Royce Marine UT 755 S design and is being built under the classification requirements of Indian Register of Shipping.

The contract for the construction of ship was signed in August 2012 and the contractual delivery date is June 10 2015.

The event was witnessed by several top officials including Cmde K Subramaniam, C&MD, CSL, Capt AM Surej, Director General, Directorate of Light Houses and Light Ships, Barun Mitra, Joint Secretary (Shipping) and Paul Antony, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust.

Cochin Shipyard said it has charted out a business plan which includes building of High tech ships like LNG Carriers, Dredgers, Passenger Vessels and high end defence ships.

The yard is contemplating international collaborations for achieving technical competence in these areas.

Presently, the yard has orders for nine Fast Patrol Vessels and one Aircraft Carrier, apart from the Buoy Tender Vessel.