The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) accepted delivery of a Panamax Bulk carrier, m.v. Vishva Vijay on 25th October, 2012.
The vessel is the third of the series of the four Panamax bulk carriers ordered by SCI with STX (Dalian) Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., China. Orders for these vessels were placed in August 2008.
These vessels were ordered to replace SCI’s Daewoo series Handymax bulk carriers which were built in 1986/87 and have been recently phased out. These vessels are of higher capacity of over 80,000 dwt each, compared with conventional Panamax vessels which are of about 75,000 dwt.
MV Vishva Vijay has a gross tonnage of 44,010 tonnes and deadweight of 80,312 tonnes. The vessel is dually classed with LR and IRS and has been built to comply with the latest and most stringent international regulations.
India is one of the growth drivers for the world economy recording impressive GDP growth compared to the developed economies. Industrial and infrastructural development plays a major role to sustain this growth. As a National carrier, SCI has been aiming to increase its presence in India’s ever increasing dry bulk trade and strengthening the bulk carrier fleet would help SCI contribute to this growth.
With the addition of this vessel, SCI’s fleet strength stands at 79 vessels of 5.77 million dwt. Acquisition of this vessel is in line with SCI’s strategy of maintaining a modern and young fleet of vessels. The Company has 20 vessels on order at present out of which 5 vessels are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2012.
[mappress] SCI, October 29, 2012