The Hindu Business Line : CSL delivers second platform supply vessel to Norway firm

Kochi April 26 The public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) delivered a platform supply vessel to Deep Sea Supply of Norway on Thursday. This is the second of a series of eight ships being built for this owner.

The vessel is of the popular UT - 755 L design and there are about 120 vessels of this design, which is already built or being built all over the world. It is designed for satisfying the specific demands of the offshore industry for transport of deck cargo, pipes, liquid cargo, cement etc and unloading to rigs and production platforms and pipe laying barges.

These vessels are the workhorse of offshore oil field industry, which acts as a lifeline carrying all operational supplies and stores to far off offshore installations. As the offshore industry moves to deeper waters, demand for such advanced vessels are expected to be higher, a press release issued here said.

Rolls Royce ship technology group has designed these ships and it is built and classified under the most stringent rules and regulations of Det Norske Veritas.

The yard is constructing 19 platform supply vessels for European clients. Apart from this, three bulk carriers for Clipper Bahamas is under advanced construction. The total order book of CSL is 22 ships amounting to over Rs 2,000 crore. This is excluding the Air Defence Ship for the Indian Navy.

CSL has also proposed a small ship division, which has received in-principle approval from the Shipping Ministry and Planning Commission. The yard's ship building achievement this year was an all time high of 1,79,000 DWT surpassing the previous best of 1,10,206 DWT achieved in 2005-06. Its net profit is expected to be around Rs 50 crore in 2006-07 with a turnover of Rs 800 crore.