The public sector Hindusthan Shipyard Limited (HSL) is all set to deliver a record number of vessels (six) during the calendar year (2016), marking a great milestone in the history of the shipyard, according to authorities.

The HSL flagged off the third of the 25-tonne bollard pull tugs, designed and built at the shipyard for the Indian Navy, this week. The tug will be commissioned at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The tug, named Buland, is the vessel no. 178 built by the shipyard. It can cruise at 12 knots.

The first two in the series of three such tugs were built in a record time of ten months and delivered to the Navy in January for the International Fleet Review (IFR).

According to HSL Chairman and Managing Director Rear-Admiral (retd) L.V Sarat Babu, “Two 50-tonne bollard pull tugs will be delivered to Kandla Port Trust by this month-end. With these, HSL will be completing delivery of six vessels in a single calendar year. This will be a record achievement in the Indian shipbuilding industry.”

In addition to this, the ship repair division of HSL delivered eight ships during the current calendar year. The fourth of the five IPVs being built for the Indian Coast Guard, Rani Gaidinliu, built by HSL, was commissioned by Director-General of Coast Guards Rajendra Singh on October 19 at the Coast Guard Jetty.

IPV is a high-speed vessel built of light steel and fitted with water jet propulsion system. These vessels are powered by powerful engines with advanced machinery control system with a speed reaching 34 knots.

The last IPV of the series, ICGS Rani Rashmoni is in an advanced stage of construction and will be delivered by May 2017. Rear Admiral (retired) L.V. Sarat Babu expressed gratitude to the Coast Guard authorities for their whole-hearted cooperation during the construction of the vessel and sought support for future projects.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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