Cochin Shipyard’s Subsidiary Wins Prestigious Contract with Ocean Sparkle Limited

On May 31, 2024, Cochin Shipyard Limited informed the stock exchanges that the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), has bagged a prestigious order from its existing customer, Ocean Sparkle Limited (OSL). Shri Harikumar A, CEO of UCSL, and Shri Hiren Shah, MD and CEO of OSL, signed the contract for the construction of three ASD (Azimuthing Stern Drive) Tugs with 70-ton Bollard Pull Power.

Ocean Sparkle Limited is a prominent Indian tug operator and an Adani Harbor Services Limited Company.

Earlier, Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited was contracted to construct two 62-ton bollard pull ASD tugs for OSL. UCSL delivered both tugs ahead of the contractual deadlines, and they have since been deployed by OSL at Paradeep Port and New Mangalore Port.

The new 70-tonne Bollard Pull Tugs will measure 33 meters in length, with a beam of 12.2 meters and a draft of 4.2 meters. They will be powered by two main engines of 1,838 kW, feature 2.7-meter diameter thrusters, and include 150 kW diesel generators. The tugs will have a forward towing winch, aft winch, 3-ton deck crane, and an external fire fighting system (FIFI-1 – 2800 Cu Mtr per Hr). Designed by Robert Allan Limited, a leading global design house for harbour tugs, these vessels will be built under the Indian flag and classed with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).

These tugs will comply with the ASTDS (Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications) set by the Government of India, aligning with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. UCSL is the first shipyard to contract and construct tugs adhering to ASTDS.

Previously, UCSL had signed agreements with Polestar Maritime Limited for the construction of 2 ASD tugs of 70-ton Bollard Pull. The first vessel was handed over to the owners before its contractual delivery date. This vessel, named ‘Konna Star’, has been put into operation at Deendayal Port, Kandla. The second vessel of the series is under construction at the UCSL yard in Malpe, Karnataka. Polestar Maritime Limited has also given a repeat order to UCSL to construct one more 70-ton Bollard Pull tug.

Commenting on this significant order, the CMD of Cochin Shipyard Limited and the Chairman of UCSL, Mr Madhu Nair, said, “We are extremely happy to be chosen again as the preferred partner by Ocean Sparkle Limited and Polestar Maritime Limited for the construction of tugs for augmenting their fleet. Both CSL and our subsidiary UCSL are committed to delivering high-quality tugs benchmarking construction cycle time with an emphasis on sustainable solutions to serve the evolving maritime ecosystem.”