Cochin Shipyard Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Udupi-Cochin Shipyard, announced the launch of a series of six 3800 TDW general cargo vessels being built for Norway’s Wilson ASA. The vessels were launched by Martine Aamdal Bottheim, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, along with Wilson ASA Chief Financial Officer Einar Tornes and Cochin Shipyard’s Chairman and MD Madhu S Nair.
These environment-friendly diesel-electric vessels, designed for transporting general cargo in the coastal waters of Europe, have a length of 89.43 meters, a breadth of 13.2 meters, and a draft of 4.2 meters. They were designed by Conoship International from the Netherlands.
This launch aligns with CSL’s commitment to the Indian government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, as well as the “Make-in-India” and “Make for the World” programmes. Wilson ASA, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, is a major short-sea fleet operator in Europe and transports around 15 million tonnes of dry cargo annually. The company operates a fleet of about 130 vessels ranging from 1500 to 8500 DWT.
Wilson ASA has placed a follow-on order for eight additional vessels in two batches—one in June and another in September—bringing the total order to 14 vessels. These projects are at various stages of construction.
Nair said, “Udupi-Cochin Shipyard Ltd (UCSL) has established a strong presence in the international shipbuilding market, collaborating with Conoship International to build these top-quality vessels for Wilson ASA. Both Cochin Shipyard Limited and Udupi-Cochin Shipyard continue to deliver high-quality ships for the Western European market.”
The repeat orders from existing clients of Udupi-CSL underscore the trust and confidence that customers place in the yard’s capabilities and excellence. Currently, Udupi-CSL has an order book valued at more than Rs 1500 crore. Since Cochin Shipyard took over Udupi-CSL in 2020 through an NCLT process, the yard has delivered two 62T Bollard Pull Tugs to Ocean Sparkle Limited (an Adani Harbor Services Limited company) and two 70T Bollard Pull tugs to Polestar Maritime Limited.
Established in 1972, CSL has evolved into a key player in the Indian maritime industry, specializing in the construction of complex vessels, including tankers, passenger ships, and naval vessels, as well as the repair and maintenance of ships and offshore platforms. The company is also involved in building high-end defense ships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
With a commitment to innovation and quality, CSL operates state-of-the-art facilities and has undertaken significant modernization initiatives to enhance its production capacity. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) and plays a vital role in India’s “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
