part1

The new intake entails six multipurpose cargo ships of 4,450 dwt and arises from options exercised on the original deal signed in February 2005 with Apollo Shipping of Germany and the Navigia Group of the Netherlands for six such vessels.

The owners' decision to double the order allocation reflects satisfaction with contractual performance to date by Chowgule's Loutulim yard in Goa, where the keel for the first ship was laid last November.

Early delivery, as well as price, were a powerful motivator for making the initial shipbuilding award to the Indian company, and completions of the second sextet are due to take place from the first half of 2008 onwards, at three-month intervals.

part2

Chowgules' commitment to heavily invest in its facilities has also had a positive bearing on the European operators' view of the Indian builder. An investment programme totaling Rs400m ($9.13m) is nearing completion, and a further Rs55m is to be spent over the next six months on a second CNC (computer numerically controlled) cutting machine and on slipway improvements at Loutulim.

The chosen design is marginally under 90 m overall, with a breadth of 14.4 m, and embodies a single, box like hold offering a capacity of around 205,000 cu it and equipped with movable bulkheads. All the vessels are primarily intended for employment in the intra-European bulk cargo trades.
UK shortsea operator Union Transport also has six similar ships on order with Chowgules.

part3

The common link in all the transactions has been the Groningen sales, marketing and design firm Conoship International. Originally acting exclusively for its northern Dutch shipyard shareholders, Conoship's terms of reference have been changed, allowing it foster business with clients on a very much broader basis. All three European companies behind the 18-vessel series have previously built at Conoship member yards in The Netherlands.

The 4,450 dwt design central to the Indian builder's drive into the international market is based on a Conoship design, and applies core features proven in the demanding coastal and shortsea freight market.

part4

The aggregate value of the 18 newbuilds is about Rs5,50Om. Following the placement of the repeat order, Navigia's Jan Schoning commented on the professionalism displayed by the Indian company, and its quick response to queries, observing that "any European businessman should find it very comfortable to conduct transactions in this environment".

Apollo's Peter Meyer-Wenk added: "We have had to spend very little time in concluding our business with Chowgules in India as compared with many other places. This does play an important role in choosing between the various options available."