KOCHI: The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Tuesday launched the second ‘Double-ended Ro-Ro ferry’. Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) scientist Rameetha, who is also the wife of CSL CMD Madhu S Nair, conducted the launch ceremony.
The vessel is the second in the Ro-Ro ferry project undertaken by Cochin Shipyard, following the demand for a safer and reliable alternative to traditional ‘jhangars’ across the busy shipping channel between Fort Kochi and Vypeen.
The vessel was designed in-house at CSL and has been built to Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules and Kerala Inland Vessel (KIV) rules applicable for inland vessels in the state and the innovative design is the first of its kind made in India. The barge can carry 12 cars and 4 trucks or 18 cars, besides 50 passengers with an endurance of about five days.
The vessel is equipped with azimuth propulsion systems on both ends for easy manoeuvring, allowing it to be operated without the need for turning around at the jetty during cast-off, thereby considerably reducing trip time. The ferry can attain a speed of up to six knots and will take around three minutes to cross the 600-metre distance between the two stations. The vessel features an air conditioned wheel house for comfort of the operator and has a number of inbuilt safety features