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The launching of two ro-pax vessels, designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) took place on 8th August 2019, underlining the yard’s growing involvement in this sector of the shipping market. The vessels launched are the third and fourth in a series of ten ships, comprising eight ro-pax and two ro-ro type vessels, ordered by IWAI.
The new ro-pax vessels can accommodate around 200 passengers, eight crew members, two trucks and four cars.
Cochin Shipyard presently has a healthy shipbuilding orderbook, and is building India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy which is in advanced stages of testing and commissioning; two ferries for Andaman & Nicobar Administration; and a total of 27 small vessels for various clients including Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Indian Navy. The company has also signed contracts for four small bulk carriers with Advisory Services, part of the JSW group, for its Indian coastal operations. These vessels are to be delivered during the second half of 2020.
To meet growing levels of demand for its services the company is in the process of building a new 310m long dry dock at Kochi, which is due to be operational in 2021, and a ship lift based ship repair yard at Willingdon Island.
Cochin Shipyard has recently commenced ship repair operations at Mumbai Port Trust and is set to start additional ship repair facilities at Kolkata and Port Blair shortly. It has also formed a shipbuilding and repair joint venture, Hooghly Cochin Shipyard, in Kolkata to cater to the needs of the fast growing inland waterway vessel segment.
