Date:27/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/27/stories/2005102701510700.htm

Back Keel laid at Cochin Shipyard for construction of vessel for Cyprus co

Our Bureau

Kochi , Oct 26

THE keel for the first of the four platform supply vessels under construction at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) was laid at the yard premises on Wednesday.

This fourth export order is for Seatankers Management Co Ltd of Cyprus, which is part of the John Fredriksen group.

The contract was inked in February and is proceeding on schedule.

The vessel for which the keel has been laid is scheduled for delivery in August next year, a release said.

These vessels of the Rolls-Royce UT 755-L design are considered as the benchmark for supply of vessels worldwide.

Rolls-Royce is supplying the main machinery for the vessel and the vessels are being built to meet the highest standards of Det Norske Veritas.

The vessels meet the general demands of the offshore industry for transport of deck cargo, pipes, liquid cargo and cement, and unloading to rigs, production platforms and pipe-laying barges.

There is a great demand for these types of ships globally and a major demand is expected in India due to planned fleet renewals of oil majors. About 80 ships of this type have been built worldwide, the release added.