Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), has secured a significant contract from Ocean Sparkle Limited (OSL), a leading Indian tug operator under Adani Harbour Services Limited. The contract entails the construction of three Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs, each with a bollard pull power of 70 tonnes.
The agreement was signed by Harikumar A, CEO of UCSL, and Hiren Shah, Managing Director and CEO of OSL, according to a statement from CSL released on Friday. This deal follows a previous successful collaboration where UCSL constructed two 62-tonne bollard pull ASD tugs for OSL, which were delivered ahead of schedule and are currently deployed at Paradeep Port and New Mangalore Port.
The new 70-tonne bollard pull tugs will feature a length of 33 meters, a beam of 12.2 meters, and a draft of 4.2 meters. They will be powered by two main engines, each generating 1838 kW, and equipped with 2.7-meter diameter thrusters, 150 kW diesel generators, a forward towing winch, an aft winch, a 3-tonne deck crane, and an external fire fighting system with a capacity of 2800 cubic meters per hour (FIFI-1-2800 Cu meter per hr).
Designed by Robert Allan Limited, a globally renowned design house for harbour tugs, these vessels will be built under the Indian Flag and classed with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). They will adhere to the Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications (ASTDS), set forth by the Government of India, aligning with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. UCSL takes pride in being the first shipyard to contract and construct tugs conforming to ASTDS.
In addition to this new order, UCSL has previously contracted with Polestar Maritime Limited for the construction of two 70-tonne bollard pull ASD tugs. The first vessel, named ‘Konna Star,’ was delivered ahead of its contractual date and is currently operational at Deendayal Port in Kandla. The second vessel is under construction at the UCSL yard in Malpe, Karnataka. Polestar Maritime Limited has also placed a repeat order for an additional 70-tonne bollard pull tug.
This new contract with OSL underscores UCSL’s growing reputation and capability in delivering high-quality maritime vessels, reinforcing its pivotal role in supporting India’s maritime infrastructure and advancing the nation’s self-reliance in shipbuilding.
