The Hindu : Private shipyard for Kochi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Private shipyard for Kochi

By A. Harikumar

ALAPPUZHA APRIL 25. The first private sector shipyard in the State with state-of-the-art facilities for building fibreglass ships will come up in Kochi soon. The construction of the shipyard will begin in a year.

S. Jeevan, chairman of the Aroor-based Samudra group and promoter of the new venture, said here today that the new company got registration as Samudra Shipyard (P) Ltd. from the Registrar of Companies three months ago. This status was accorded after the authority got itself satisfied that the group has the necessary technical expertise and funds to start the new venture.

The new venture, to be based near the Kochi port, will have a foreign collaborator, he said.

Mr. Jeevan said the Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, will handover the ISO certification to the company at a formal function at the boatyard of the company at Aroor on April 29, marking the beginning of the new company.

The Aroor-based company, which has a unit in Lakshadweep, is now engaged in the construction of fibreglass boats, water sports equipment and marine accessories. The new company would concentrate in the building of medium-size passenger ships in fibreglass. Mini passenger ships built in fibreglass operating between islands are popular in foreign countries but not in India.

He said the company had plans to build ships for the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. Officials of the Navy have already visited the boat-building yard of his company at Aroor and approved the facilities there.

According to Mr. Jeevan, the new shipyard planned to build mini cruise ships and patrolling vessels for the Coast Guard. The new company is planning to build mine sweepers for the Navy in fibreglass. Fibreglass ships would be best suited as mine sweepers as fibreglass, a non-conducting material, would not lead to explosion of mines scattered in water.

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