SCI takes delivery of 4,400-TEU container vessel

The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) on October 22 accepted delivery of a 4,400-TEU cellular container vessel, m. v. SCI Chennai, reported Exim News Service.

The vessel had, on October 14, been named by Mr T. R. Baalu, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, at a colourful ceremony at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. Ltd, South Korea.

The vessel is the first of SCI’s two 4,400-TEU containerships constructed at the yard.

Orders for these vessels were placed in November 2006 and the second one, m.v. SCI Mumbai, is scheduled for delivery on October 28.

The vessels are the largest boxships in the Indian Register. They have been classed with LRS and IRS and have been built to comply with the latest and most stringent international regulations.

Induction of these vessels into the SCI fleet will consolidate its position in the shipping industry, says a release. Acquisition of these vessels is in line with SCI’s strategy of maintaining a modern and young fleet.

With the latest acquisition, the company’s fleet has increased to 79 vessels of 4.77 million DWT. SCI has an additional 31 ships on order and has an ambitious plan to order 42 more ships in 3-4 years.