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Ashok Chowgule: in shipbuilding for the long haul.

Initially, the group is likely to order two multipurpose cargo ships (MPCs) but a fleet of six is the aim. The first delivery would be at the end of 2008 and the rest would follow at six-month intervals.

Chowgule Steamship's website already lists four coastal ships of between 2,000 dwt and 3,500 dwt built at Goa and in Malaysia between 1994 and 2000.

Its four listed panamax bulkers include the 77,000-dwt Maratha Mission (built 1985) and 76,700dwt Maratha Majesty (built 1988), built at Cochin, and 72,900-dwt Maratha Mighty (built 1996) and 71,300-dwt Maratha Messenger (built 1995), built in Taiwan and Japan. All the ships trade in the spot market.

The industrial and shipping group was started by Chowgule & Co executive director Ashok Chowgule's grandfather with a small manufacturing business.

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Today, the group is involved in industrial explosives, salt and gases, as well as brewing, marketing agencies and machine fabrication. Its iron-ore mining generates around three million tonnes of exports per year, some two million tonnes to Japan and one million tonnes to China. All are free-onboard (FOB) contracts.

Involved in the business are the Chowgule brothers, Ashok and group chief executive Vijay, and their first cousins. Ashok and Vijay's father is now 91 years old but is described as being "still not exactly retired".

Ashok says India's manufacturing strength is not appreciated given its educated workforce, industrial knowledge and strong, commercial and legal infrastructure, 'which, he claims, makes it relatively easy to operate in the country.

Things happen slowly in India but those who get into shipbuilding, given the environmental-impact hoops they have to go through, are serious players and will be there for the long term, says Ashok Chowgule.