The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) accepted
delivery of a Suezmax crude oil tanker, today
10th October, 2012. The vessel has been named as
m.t. "Desh Shobha".
The vessel has been purchased from Hyundai Samho Heavy
Industries Co. Ltd (HSHI), S. Korea on resale basis. The
vessel has a gross tonnage of 81,334 tonnes and deadweight of
1,58,034 tonnes at scantling draft. The vessel has been
classed with LR and IRS and has been built to comply with
latest international regulations.
The shipping markets are prevailing at low levels at present
and as a result the shipbuilding industry is also going
through a recessionary phase. This has presented
opportunities for acquisition of vessels at attractive prices
and SCI has also utilized the available opportunity for
acquisition of this vessel from HSHI.
India as a nation is dependent on import of crude oil and
having tankers under Indian flag provides vital energy
security to the country. As is known, uninterrupted transport
and supply of oil, a major source of primary energy, is vital
to a country's growth. In times of international crisis, it
is all the more important to maintain a secured supply line.
In view of this, addition of crude oil tankers to national
fleet will ensure uninterrupted transport of essential
cargoes such as crude oil and petroleum products in the
process ensuring national and energy security. Energy
transportation has also been the core business segment for
SCI and induction of this vessel in SCI's fleet will
strengthen its position in the energy transportation
sector.
In view of this strategic acquisition, SCI's crude oil tanker
fleet has increased to 3.63 million dwt and SCI's fleet
strength has increased to 78 vessels of 5.69 million dwt. The
Company has 21 vessels on order at present and 7 of these are
slated for delivery during the remaining period of 2012.
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