Udupi Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (UCSL), a subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., has launched the first of three high-performance 70-tonne bollard pull tugs being built for Ocean Sparkle Ltd., part of the Adani Ports and SEZ Group.
The vessel was launched at UCSL’s Udupi facility in the presence of MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, who commended the shipyard’s growing contribution to the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and India’s self-reliance in shipbuilding.
Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Canada, the tug measures 33 meters in length and is equipped with twin 1,838 kW engines and 2.7-meter Niigata IHI propellers, enabling exceptional maneuverability and towing power.
UCSL is currently constructing eight additional tugs for Ocean Sparkle and recently delivered two 70-tonne bollard pull tugs to Polestar Maritime in 2024. Beyond tug construction, the shipyard is also building general cargo and dry cargo vessels for Norway-based Wilson ASA, of which two have already been delivered.
These initiatives are part of UCSL’s commitment to the Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications (ASTDS) program of the Government of India, aimed at boosting indigenous shipbuilding capacity and strengthening the nation’s maritime infrastructure.
