ALAPPUZHA: M V Karuthal, a 1600-DWT multi-purpose container vessel built by the Century Shipyard Private Limited, Panavally, Cherthala, was launched on Friday. It will take around two days for the vessel to be completely drawn into the water. Karuthal will be the first vessel to navigate through the Vembanadu lake.
Karuthal was constructed for Trans Asian Shipping Services Pvt Ltd, Singapore.
Shipyard manager S S Nair said that the vessel is the biggest marine vessel ever built by the private sector in Kerala and the 4th vessel built by Century Shipyard. “The keel was laid on August 29, 2007.
The vessel has a length of 67.58 metres, breadth of 12.80 metres and depth of 5.60 metres.
The vessel has been designed to carry 52 Twentyfoot Equivalent Units(TEU) containers.
The vessel can also carry general cargo, in addition to the containers,” Nair said. The total cost of the vessel is around Rs 14 crore.
The vessel will be taken to Kochi through the Vembanad lake after 20 days. Nair said that the upper portion of the vessel would be assembled after it reaches Kochi, as the vessel has to pass under four bridges before reaching Kochi.