Special Correspondent
Kochi: Clipper Texan, the fifth in a series of six bulk carriers being built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) for the Clipper Group, Denmark, sailed off from Kochi on Saturday on her first voyage, with the construction of the ship being completed two months ahead of schedule.
The vessel was formally handed over to its owner on Friday, a shipyard release said.
The release described the completion of the work ahead of schedule as a “tremendous achievement for CSL,” and pointed out that it had helped to achieve value addition for the owner. The CSL is planning to deliver the last vessel of the series later this year, three months ahead of schedule.
The ship is designed and built as a single-screw diesel-engine- driven bulk carrier. The vessel, which complies with the requirements for type ‘B’ ships defined by the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, is capable of carrying dry bulk and break bulk cargo such as grain, metal concentrates, iron ore, scrap metal, coal, bauxite, salt and sugar. It is 178.7 metres long, with a breadth of 28 metres, depth of 14 metres and draft of 9.5 metres. The ship has a gross tonnage of 19,918 and a grain-holding capacity of 40,000 cubic metres. It has a maximum speed of 14.3 knots.
The yard is in the process of constructing 17 platform supply vessels for various European clients. The order book includes 19 ships, an important order being the construction of the prestigious Air Defence Ship for the Indian Navy.
The yard’s proposal for setting up a small ship division with facilities for building small commercial ships is in focus now. It notched up a net profit of Rs. 58 crore and turnover of Rs. 800 crore during 2006-07. The net profit grew three times and turnover two times from those in 2005-06.