CSL achieves rare feat; launches five vessels at one go

(Words 545)

Amidst the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) achieved a rare feat by launching five vessels at one go from its building dock at Kochi.

This is not the first time that CSL has launched such a number of vessels in one go, rather, the same kind of feat was achieved by the ship maker in November 2020 as well. The vessels were launched by Rameetha K, scientist ‘G’, Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in the presence of DIG (BSF) Mukesh Tyagi, JSW Shipping VP Pranab K Jha, VP & CSL CMD Madhu S Nair.

*3 Floating Outpost Vessels, 2 Cargo Ships launched*

The vessels launched by CSL from its building dock include three Floating Border Outpost Vessels (FBOP) for the Border Security Force (BSF) and two 8000 DWT Mini General Cargo Ships which are launched for JSW Shipping and Logistics Pvt Ltd.

Floating Border Outpost (FBOP) Vessels: With the length of 46 metres, the three FBOPs are a part of nine vessels that have been built for the Water Wing of the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF). The new vessels for the first line of defence, BSF, will act as the strategic base stations at the borders. The vessels that are being designed in-house by CSL give a strategic edge to BSF by enhancing manoeuvrability and effectively manning the riverine border. Here, each FBOP is designed with storage space arrangements for four fast patrol boats that can be launched using its davit system. The vessels will be put to use to supply petrol, drinking water, and provision to the smaller boats while acting as a floating base & checkpoints for the fast patrol boats. They will be deployed on India’s eastern and western borders.

Mini General Cargo Ships: Launched as a part of a series of four similar ships, the mini general Cargo Ships are being built for the JSW group. The ships are expected to commute on the coastal route between Jaigarh Port and Dolvi Steel Plant in river Amba, near Dharamtar Port. These vessels will be used for the transportation of dry bulk cargo materials including coal, iron ore, dolomite and limestone. Mini General Cargo Ships are designed and classed under the standards of the Indian Register of Shipping, with a dimension of 122 metres and 7.20 metres in height and speed consisting of 10 knots. The vessel will have 16 crew members.

FBOP Vessels in the service of the nation

The indigenously made FBOP holds utter importance for the safety of the nation as India shares a 4,905 kilometre-long border with Bangladesh, including a distance of 2,216 km in West Bengal; a distance of 154 km of international borders, around 64 km of which pass through the Sunderbans. The distance ratio gives an idea of one of the most heavily populated frontiers in the world, the Indo-Bangladesh border, which is usually troubled by infiltration and smuggling. With infiltrators and smugglers consistently taking the river route, the role played by Floating Border Outpost Vessels has assumed much greater significance.

On the other hand, mini general Cargo Ships for the JSW group will prove to be a boost for the business through coastal and inland waterways.