Indian Naval floating dock departs from Colombo

Floating Dock Navy 1 (FDN 1), the floating dock with the Indian Navy which was undergoing refit at the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) for the past eight months, set sail for India on March 16 on successful completion of the repairs, the Indian High Commission said.

The floating dock functions under Government of India's Andaman and Nicobar joint Services Command at Port Blair. Annually the floating dock undertakes refit of a large number of ships in the Andamans. The dock is manned and operated by Indian naval personnel.

The Colombo Dockyard was awarded the contract for the retro fitment of FDN 1 after technical and commercial negotiations in which various international shipyards participated.

The contract worth around US$ 14 million is the single largest contract to have been won by Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL).

The floating dock had been brought to Colombo in May 2004 and completed its refitting task in early March 2005. An Indian naval team worked closely with the shipyard for conduct of the refit.

The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao flagged off the naval floating dock on its homeward passage at the Colombo Dockyard Limited at an impressive ceremony attended by S. Tatebe, chairman P.B. Yapa, MD and officers of CDL, officers and men of the FDN, and the entire work force of the CDL this morning.

The High Commissioner was briefed by the MD of CDL and thereafter conducted around the dock.

The successful completion of the refit of the Indian naval floating dock by the CDL is yet another milestone in the friendly cooperation between the two countries. The technical exchange and the good will between the Indian navy and the CDL has been excellent. The crew of the FDN was full of praise for the professional competence and dedication of the personnel of the CDL.