5 days ago
India inducts South Korea-built LPG carrier Sahyadri
A day before the 79th Independence day, the Shipping Ministry inducted Sahyadri, a very large gas carrier (VLGC), which will transport LPG between the Persian Gulf and India, securing a vital energy lifeline.
The vessel, named after the mountain range along India's western coast, is now part of the fleet of state-run Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. It is after a gap of eight years that an Indian public sector unit has acquired a VLGC.
The ministry was keen on meeting the August 15 deadline, so that the tricolour could symbolically be hoisted atop the ship by August 15. The hoisting was carried out atop the vessel at Hamad port in Qatar on Thursday in the presence of the Indian crew of the ship, who were there to take charge of it.
Officials said the acquisition is a step towards building a self-reliant, globally competitive shipping sector and reducing dependence on foreign tonnage for strategic cargo.
'Every addition to our fleet is a step towards a stronger, self-reliant maritime India. With the growing fleet of Indian flagged vessels, we are moving towards enabling our maritime goal of becoming Atmanirbhar and propel the economic growth towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' said Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. 'It is also a matter of pride that this addition comes as the nation celebrates its 79th Independence Day.'
Sahyadri meets stringent international safety and environmental standards, said a ministry note.
'The South Korea built 225-metre-long, 36-metre-wide carrier can transport up to 82,000 cubic metres of LPG. The induction raises SCI's deadweight tonnage to 5.2 million and its owned fleet to 57 vessels, including crude and product tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, gas carriers and offshore vessels,' it said.
The acquisition is the first under a July agreement to purchase two VLGCs of the same capacity. The second vessel, to be renamed Shivalik, will join later this financial year.
