China Shipyard Delivers Supramax Bulker to SCI

The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) has accepted delivery of  supramax bulk carrier, 'm.v. Vishva Diksha' from STX (Dalian) Shipbuilding

The vessel is the last vessel of SCI’s six Supramax bulk carriers ordered from STX (Dalian) Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., China. Orders for these vessels were placed in December 2007 which were ordered as part replacement of SCI’s existing Daewoo series Handymax bulk carriers which were built in 1986/87. With induction of these vessels the overall age profile of SCI’s bulk carrier fleet has improved significantly to 6 years.

“m.v. Vishva Diksha” has a gross tonnage of 33,185 tonnes and deadweight of 57,132.5 tonnes. The vessel has been classed with DNV and IRS and has been built to comply with the latest and most stringent international regulations.

SCI state that the world economy is presently reeling under the recessionary pressure and although India is not growing at levels touched before the downturn, it is still on a reasonably healthy growth trajectory. 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 its bulk carrier fleet should help SCI contribute to this growth. With addition of this vessel, SCI’s fleet strength stands at 77 vessels of 5.58 million dwt. Acquisition of the new ship is in line with SCI’s strategy of maintaining a modern and young fleet of vessels. The Company has 25 vessels on order at present and 13 of these are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2012.