Cochin Shipyard launches third Fast Patrol Vessel for Indian Coast Guard
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched the third Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) being built for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) today, said in the company's press release. The vessel bearing yard Hull No. BY 503 was launched by Smt. Nina Paul Antony, in the prese nce of DIG Satish Chandran, TM, COM DIS 4 and DIG TP Sadanandan, CGRPS (K) of India n Coast Guard. Commodore K. Subramaniam, C&MD, CSL, Shri Paul Anto ny, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, Senior Officials of the Coast Guard, Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Ltd., were also present. The vessel was named ‘ABHINAV’ by Sm t Nina Paul Antony.
The launch was a visual spectacle in its innovative ness. With the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) occupying the building dock, the Fast patrol Vessel weighing 120 Tons placed on specially designed cradles at the dock head hoisted by the gantry crane and transported over the entire length of the IAC, before being lowered into the water. This unique method is another example of the Shipyard`s quest to find innovative solutions.
The vessel is the third in a series of 20 numbers FPVs contracted by CSL for the ICG. The contract was signed in 2010 with delivery of the last vessel slated for 2017. The vessels are being built under the dual classificati on requirements of ABS and IRS. The 50 metre x 7.6 metre x 4.65 metre vessels have a desig ned speed of 33 knots. The primary role of the vessel include fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and coastal patrol , anti smugg ling, search and rescue operations and for anti piracy operations. The vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link & escort convoys during hostilit ies and war time.
These high speed Fast Patrol Vessels, though small in size are extremely complex and technologically challenging. The ships are pro pelled by water jets to attain a speed of 33 knots. The high speed boats are weight sensi tive and extensive use of Aluminium in the super structure has been made. Cochin Shipy ard has developed special techniques to ensure high quality welding and fabri cation of Aluminium structures.
Cochin Shipyard presently has 25 ships on order con sisting of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels as above, 3 Offshore Support ships for Indi an and foreign owners, 1 Buoy Tender vessel for the Department of Lighthouses and Lightships and the Prestigious Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy. CSL has ente red into the high niche technological area of Offshore Support Vessels for the oil indust ry incorporating high end technology like clean design, electric propulsion, comfort cla ss notation, etc. Since 2005 CSL has built and delivered 40 ships for owners based at va rious parts of the world viz Bahamas, Norway, Netherlands, Greece, USA and Saudi Arabia . Apart from this CSL has delivered 4 Anchor Handling Tugs and 2 Platform Su pport Vessels to Shipping Corporation of India. In the year 2012-13 CSL deliv ered 6 Offshore Support Ships, for various international and domestic owners.
Recently, CSL entered into a contract with Cochin Port Trust for setting up of an international Ship Repair facility at the Cochin Po rt Trust premises. This new facility is expected to help shipyard to increase its market sh are in the repair of small and medium ships. The first ship for repair in the Cochin Port Trust repair facility was docked on 25 May 2013. The yard has also identified other expans ion plans for growth.