Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited, on Monday launched the first of three 70-tonne bollard pull tugs being built for M/s. Ocean Sparkle Limited, part of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ).
The launch was officiated by Kota Srinivas Poojary, Member of Parliament for Udupi–Chikkamagaluru, who praised UCSL and CSL for advancing the Union government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in maritime manufacturing.
The three tugs are part of a larger order of 11 vessels from Ocean Sparkle, with eight more currently in the design stage. Each tug measures 33 metres in length, with a 12.2-metre beam and 4.2-metre draft, powered by two 1,838 kW engines and 2.7-metre propellers from Niigata IHI Power Systems Co. Ltd. The vessels feature deck equipment from WRig Limited and designs by Robert Allan Limited.
Built under the Government of India’s Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications (ASTDS), the tugs aim to enhance domestic shipbuilding standardisation and self-reliance. UCSL has a proven track record, having delivered multiple tugs for Ocean Sparkle and Polestar Maritime Limited in recent years.
Besides tug construction, UCSL is expanding globally, currently building six 3,800 DWT general cargo vessels and eight 6,300 DWT dry cargo vessels for Norwegian client Wilson ASA, with two already delivered.
The launch marks a step forward in strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure and promoting indigenous shipbuilding under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.