Delivery scheduled for 2021; A&N order book has 4 vessels
KOCHI: The first of the two 1200 Pax capacity passenger vessel cum 1000T cargo vessel constructed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Administration was launched on Tuesday at CSL’s Kochi yard.
The vessel is part of an order for a series of four vessels – two 500 pax cum 150T cargo vessels and two 1200 pax cum 1000T cargo vessels, placed with CSL by the A&N Administration.
The second 1200 pax vessel is also under construction at CSL. In the meantime, CSL is in advanced stages of completion of the two 500 pax vessels for inter-island operations at the A&N.
CSL said the first 500 pax vessel is scheduled to undergo sea trials next month and expected to be delivered ‘ready-for-service’ for the A&N islands in March 2020.
“The second 500 pax vessel is currently undergoing outfitting and will be ready for delivery to the islands in June 2020,” the official spokesperson at Cochin Shipyard said.
A statement from CSL said the vessel that was launched on Tuesday has been designed as a modern high quality passenger vessel with electric propulsion suitable for carrying 1200 passengers and 1000T cargo for ‘all-weather’ operation on the Main Land to A&N route.
The ship has also been built to the highest standards of the Indian Register of Shipping and Lloyds Register of Shipping, overseen by the DG Shipping of India and as per the requirements of ‘Class III Special Trade Passenger Ship’ in compliance with Indian Merchant Shipping rules, according to a CSL statement.
Built in steel as a modern, safe and seaworthy vessel with aesthetic lines and pleasant profile, the speciality of this vessel is that it comes with ‘Safe Return to Port’ (SRtP) compliance, which is envisaged to be a ‘first’ in Asia.
Capable of sailing at a speed of 18 knots, the vessel is approximately 157 metres long. It will now undergo outfitting & building up of the accommodation & living quarters, after which it will undergo testing & trials prior to delivery to the A&N islands in 2021.
