The Hindu Business Line : Cochin Shipyard lays keel for Denmark group's bulk carrier

COCHIN Shipyard Ltd on Wednesday laid the keel for the first bulk carrier to be built for the Clipper Group of Denmark, as well as for the construction of the fifth and sixth fire-fighting tugs for A.A. Turki Corporation (ATCO) of Saudi Arabia.

The keel for the bulk carrier was laid by the representative of the Clipper Group, Mrs Alice Prince, Chief Financial Officer, GTR Campbell Marine Consultants Ltd, Bahamas, a press release issued here has said. Captain Khalil Hemida, representative of ATCO, laid the keel for the tugs.

Cochin Shipyard is currently constructing nine fire-fighting tugs for ATCO for the use of the Jeddah Port Authorities. The contract for their construction was signed in June 2003. The first of these tugs were delivered on November 10. Two other tugs are undergoing outfitting and are scheduled for delivery on March 5, 2005.

These tugs are in the 1500 and 2400 KW category and are seagoing variety and its basic functions include ship handling, fire fighting and oil pollution response. These vessels are built to the DNV class.

The shipyard concluded a contract for constructing a series of bulk carriers for Clipper of Denmark in January. The initial contract was signed for four firm and four optional orders, which was later amended to six firm and two optional ships. The keel laying signals a critical stage in the construction of the ship, the release said.

The vessel is to designed and built as a single screw diesel engine driven bulk carrier for unrestricted worldwide service. The vessel is to comply with the requirements for type B ships defined by the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966. The ship will carry dry, bulk and break bulk cargoes such as grain, metal concentrates, iron ore, scrap metal, coal, bauxite, salt and sugar.