The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) took delivery of a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), m.v. SCI Nalanda, on August 14, according to Exim News Service.
It had signed contracts for acquisition of two PSVs with Cochin Shipyard in July 2009. The second vessel of the series is expected to be delivered next month. This is the first-ever PSV to be inducted into SCI's fleet. The delivery of this vessel has strengthened the company's standing as a formidable player in the offshore services sector, emphasised an official release.
The PSV has gross tonnage of 2,633 tonnes and deadweight of 3,093 tonnes. Though not mandatory, SCI has, for the first time, ordered a vessel with clean design and environment-friendly Rolls-Royce UT-Design UT 755 CD. The vessel has diesel electrical propulsion which consumes less fuel than the conventional direct drive system, thereby reducing emissions. Dual classed with DNV and IRS, and equipped with Dynamic Positioning (DP-II) system, Reverse Osmosis Plant, Fire-fighting (FIFI-1) equipment, ERRV (Emergency Response & Rescue Vessel), and partial UKOOA Class 'C' compliance, it has been built to comply with the latest and most stringent international regulations so as to enable it to offer the essential support and services for the growth of the Indian offshore industry.
SCI presently has a fleet of 16 vessels in the offshore sector, of which 9 were acquired during the eighties. They have been dedicatedly serving the oil exploration and production sector in India for the past more than 25 years, the release highlighted.