Chowgule Shipyards delivers its 29th export vessel from India, the first since the COVID-19 lockdown

National, December 14, 2020: Chowgule Shipyards, part of the Chowgule Group, announced that it has successfully delivered India’s first vessel in the export market since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The general cargo vessel, named ‘Lady Hedwig’ for Netherlands based  client ‘Wijnne & Barends’ is 98.2 m in  Length Overall, 13.4 m in breadth moulded , 7.8 m in depth and has a  draft of 5.6 m. This is the third from a series of six vessels ordered by the client and the shipyard is proud to build Ice Class Swedish Finnish 1A quality vessels for world market, again first of its kind from India. The vessel has sailed today from Goa on her maiden voyage.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Arjun Chowgule, Executive Director, Chowgule & Company Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are proud to be the first in India to achieve this feat since the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team worked relentlessly towards building the vessel before the set timeline and ensured that its delivery is not affected despite the pandemic. In the absence of OEM service engineers due to COVID-19 restrictions, our team performed the tasks of commissioning equipment themselves, supported remotely by OEMs. This achievement reiterates our focus on being a serious player in the international shipbuilding market We will continue to work on delivering such world-class vessels in future too, in line with our Prime Minister’s vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.”

Chowgule Shipyards had started in the year 1950 with importing barges for the transportation of iron ore along rivers from the mines to the harbor. A year later, the group established a ship repair yard, which grew in scale to a full-fledged shipbuilding facility by 1968. Since then, buoyed by growing demand, the company has built over 177 different vessels at its two shipyards. Today, the company has shipyards at Loutulim and Rassaim; an independent plate and pipe preparation facility at Gadegally; and a large storing space at Verna in Goa. The shipyards adopt 3D modeling, detailed production drawings, no green concept, and advanced modular construction methods. Chowgule and Company entered the export market in 2005, and currently has 29 of its (multi-purpose) MPP cargo carrier vessels sailing with European clients on international voyages. Chowgule and Company had recently partnered with Denmark’s Tuco Marine Group for manufacturing advanced patrol boats in India.