Keel laying ceremony held for 3rd & 4th 40T Bollard Pull ASD Tugs at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd

KOLKATA : Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd (HooghlyCSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited, marked another significant milestone in its shipbuilding roadmap with the keel laying ceremony of the 3rd and 4th 40T (@90% MCR) Bollard Pull ASD Tugs. The ceremony was conducted at the company’s Nazirgunge Yard on 11 December 2025, in the presence of senior officials from HooghlyCSL, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, and representatives of the owner, Industrial Handling Pvt. Ltd.

The tugs are being constructed under the stringent classification standards of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), reflecting the highest benchmarks of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Designed for harbour assistance, towing operations, and manoeuvring tasks, these Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs will provide robust performance with enhanced bollard pull capability, modern navigation systems, and fuel-efficient operational profiles.

The keel laying marks the commencement of the hull blocks erection, a pivotal phase in the shipbuilding process. This development demonstrates the shipyard’s growing capability to deliver technologically advanced, high-quality vessels within committed timelines.

Speaking on the occasion, officials highlighted that the construction of these tugs reinforces the nation’s commitment to strengthening indigenous shipbuilding in alignment with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The project also contributes to the maritime sector’s push for greater self-reliance, skilled employment generation, and industrial growth on the banks of the Hooghly River.

With the successful execution of multiple vessel projects in recent years, HooghlyCSL continues to emerge as a key player in India’s inland and coastal shipbuilding ecosystem, supporting the nation’s broader maritime infrastructure and logistics ambitions.