The Andaman & Nicobar Island Administration can look forward to taking delivery of its two 500-passenger vehicles as the erection, or final welding, process has begun at the Cochin Shipyard.
During the shipbuilding process, each ship block is brought to the building dock, where they are erected with cranes. After each erection, welding is carried out on block joints.
The two ships, which can also carry 150 tons of cargo in addition to the 500 passengers, are among the four that are in construction for the Administration at Cochin Shipyard.
The ships are designed and built as a modern high quality passenger vessel for Inter-Island service in the Andaman & Nicobar islands and for occasional main land transfer, the shipbuilding company said.
In addition, the Cochin Shipyard is also building two larger ships that can carry 1,200 passengers and 1,000 tons of cargo each.
“The contracts were awarded as part of ‘Make-in-India’ initiative of Government of India,” it said.
Cochin Shipyard is also building the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy, and the Technology Demonstration vessel for the Government of India.