Shipping
Dockyard to build largest Vessel in its history
Colombo Dockyard PLC laid the keel, to mark the commencement of
construction of the largest vessel in its history of shipbuilding, a 400
Passenger cum 250 Ton Cargo Vessel for the Administration of Union
Territory of Lakshadweep, India. This is the first vessel of a series of
two vessels that has been ordered by the Government of India.
|
At the keel laying ceremony Mangala
Yapa (MD/ CEO, CDPLC), Manish (Counsellor Economic and
Commercial, Indian High Commission), Capt Sumeet Kapoor
(Defence Advisor, Indian High Commission), A. Nakauchi
(Chairman, CDPLC), D.V.D. Prasad Rao (Indian Register of
Shipping), Srinath Herat (Lloyds Register of Shipping), D.V.
Abeysinghe (GM-P&E, CDPLC) |
The Keel was laid at the auspicious time of 0827 am, in the presence
of Manish (Counsellor Economic and Commerce, Indian High Commission),
Capt. Sumeet Kapoor (Defence Advisor, Indian High Commission), Srinath
Herat (Lloyds Register of Shipping), D.V.D. Prasad Rao (Indian Register
of Shipping). Akihiko Nakauchi Chairman, Mangala P.B. Yapa Managing
Director/ CEO, N. Nishida Director, the senior management and the
project management team of Colombo Dockyard were present at the
occasion.
Once completed, these vessels will be deployed to cater to the
increased traffic en-route from the Main Land (Cochin) to UTL Islands,
as well as in the inter island routes. The addition of these vessels
will ease the movement of passengers especially during peak season.
These being the second series of Passenger Vessels to be built by
Colombo Dockyard, these vessels will be superior to the earlier two,
incorporating the learning from the previous, setting new benchmarks for
passenger/cargo transportation used by the UTLA.
These being Passenger Vessels, the Shipyard will take extra stringent
quality control and great care on safety measures, in order to ensure
the vessel's appropriateness in material and machinery, these vessels
shall be built to meet all applicable IMO, SOLAS and Special Trade
Passenger Ship Rules of the Indian Flag Administration.
The vessel designed by world renowned ship design firm, GL Noble
Denton of Norway (formerly known as Brevik Engineering) and the detailed
design engineering performed by Neilsoft Ltd of India has converged
specialists in their respective fields to achieve the best design
solutions.
The vessel shall be dual classed meeting class rules of Lloyds
Register of Shipping, Indian Register of Shipping and statutory rules
applicable for a vessel of this type.
The Vessel shall be powered by two Japanese made YANMAR Main Engines
each developing a propulsive power of 1920 kW, driving two Swedish made
BERG Controllable Pitch Propellers with 3m diameter. This combination
provides a high level of maneuverability, optimum efficiency and
economic operation for the Vessel.
The accommodation spaces in this Vessel, shall consist of, private
space, office space, sanitary space, catering space and other spaces.
The Passengers will have different categories of accommodation.
There will be 10 first class, 40 second class and 350 normal class
passenger transportation facilities.
All these passenger compartments shall be fully air conditioned using
an air conditioning system consisting of central air handling unit and
refrigerating plant, designed on the basis of environment friendly
refrigerant chilled water system.
Well designed and well laid out wheelhouse is ought to provide
excellent visibility of the horizon, where the master and the bridge
crew will have unobtrusive view right around the vessel for ease of
navigability.
Navigation and communication electronic equipment shall be
predominately supplied by European and Japanese Makers to increase
reliability and to ensure uninterrupted spare part and service support
during the life span of the vessel.
The vessel so designed, shall be a perfect blend of high tech and
elegance, and could be considered as one of the most environmentally
friendly vessels to be built by Colombo Dockyard, which indeed will be a
positive feature considering the un-spoilt terrain of the Lakshadweep
Administration in which these vessels are intended to be operated.
The vessels hull design has been based on slender outlines, the
vessel features very low fuel consumption and shall have outstanding
maneuvering and sea keeping capabilities with low noise and vibration
levels which will also increase the comfort of the passengers and crew
of the vessel.
The Vessel is to be manned by a crew of 69 who will also be provided
with comfortable and elegant living quarters matching the world
standards available on a vessel of this class.
The fact that the Indian Government placed its utmost confidence once
again in Colombo Dockyard to build these Passenger Vessels, just a year
after delivery of the two Passenger Vessels (MV Arabian Sea and MV
Lakshadweep Sea), is a clear testimony of the maturity and the status
that Colombo Dockyard, has achieved in the field of Shipbuilding in the
region and will further strengthen the long and cordial relationship,
the two countries have enjoyed over the past years.
Global commerce and logistics courses at SLFI
|
Sean Vandort, Consultant SA, Rohan
Masakorala, CEO SA and Prof. Ranjith Badara Chairman SLFI |
In a new public private partnership, the Sri Lanka Foundation
Institute (SLFI) joined the Shippers Academy (SA) Colombo to conduct
courses in shipping, logistics and global commerce last week.
The two institutions will offer worker based short courses to support
continuous capacity building of the industry personnel and also launch
courses for beginners who would have knowledge of international commerce
(export/import) and supply chain courses including logistics, ports,
customs and other areas of knowledge related to global commerce.
The Foundation will offer excellent training facilities and the
Shippers Academy will develop suitable curriculum that is up to date and
will give world class training with valid certification.
Short courses will be a focus of the two institutions at the outset
and will offer diploma level certification in the coming months. Courses
will be on offer from May 2012.
(SJ)
|