Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has commenced steel cutting for a series of 70-tonne bollard pull (BP) tugboats being built for Svitzer A/S of Denmark, marking the start of construction for the vessels.
The project involves the construction of high-performance harbour tugs designed to support ship-handling and marine services. With a bollard pull of 70 tonnes, the tugs will provide the towing and manoeuvring capability required to assist large commercial vessels in ports and terminals.
The steel-cutting ceremony represents a key milestone in the shipbuilding programme, moving the project from the design and preparation stage into physical construction. Further stages will include fabrication, assembly, installation of machinery and equipment, outfitting and testing before delivery.
The order strengthens CSL’s international shipbuilding portfolio and reflects the growing role of Indian shipyards in securing contracts from global maritime companies. International orders also provide opportunities for Indian shipbuilders to develop expertise in specialised vessels and meet international technical and quality standards.
Svitzer, a global provider of harbour towage and marine services, operates tug fleets supporting vessel movements at ports around the world. The new vessels are expected to add modern tug capacity to its operations.
The project highlights continued demand for specialised workboats as ports handle increasingly large commercial vessels and seek powerful, efficient tugboats for safe berthing, unberthing and manoeuvring operations.
For CSL, the contract adds to its growing order pipeline and supports India’s broader efforts to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity and increase the country’s presence in the global maritime market.