Cochin Shipyard will be building their first four catamaran vessels for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as declared by the Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari. Done under ‘Make in India’ drive, the four catamaran vessels should be ready in two and a half years maximum, and they will be used for cruising and similar purposes.
No new ships had been acquired by the local administration during the last 10 years and the lack of vessels has caused difficulties for passengers as well as tourists: the introduction of such vessels is thus aimed to ease transportation for the people of Andaman and Nicobar islands, but it is also expected to enhance overall cruising in the area.
According to the Minister, developing waterways would be a favourable turning point for the Indian economy: his government gave priority to the development of inland waterways comprising rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and backwaters, which extend to about 14,500 km across the country. Moreover, Gadkari wishes to gather foreign investments, especially from US industrialists, in seaplanes in India, which is said to offer a great potential in the field.
Cochin Shipyard, incorporated in 1972, is the largest shipyard in India, it has been getting shipbuilding orders from major European and Middle East companies, and is nominated to build India’s first indigenous Air Defense Ship. The state-owned company has also recently signed an agreement with GTT France, the world leader in design and technology provider of containment systems for transportation of LNG, under which it will build cryogenic carriers for liquid-form frozen natural gas.
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