In Shipbuilding News 20/02/2015
If everything goes well, efforts to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships in the country is likely to be fulfilled with South Korean technology.
At present, a government-backed plan to build locally at least three of the nine new LNG carriers, which will be hired by GAIL (India) Ltd from fleet owners to bring gas from the US by 2017, is in motion.Each carrier would cost around `1,250 crore. Cochin Shipyard Ltd, L&T Shipbuilding and Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company are the three shipyards which will be utilised for LNG ship building.
South Korean companies such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and STX Offshore and Shipbuilding are in talks with Indian shipbuilding firms for a possible technology collaboration. Cochin Shipyard is also in talks with companies in South Korea for sharing LNG shipbuilding technology.
“As talks are at a very nascent stage, we cannot comment on the development now. We are on a wait and watch mode. If all goes well, we hope to get a favourable outcome in one month,” said Cmde K Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
“US, France, Japan, Korea and China are the frontrunners in building LNG carriers. But unfortunately they are not willing to share the technology with us. Reports that companies in South Korea are willing to share technology with us is a very positive development. Building of LNG carriers will bring in a sea of change in the crisis-hit industry, especially for entities like Cochin Shipyard,” said Antony Prince, president, Smart Engineering and Design Solutions Ltd. Even though GAIL had pushed the tender timeline further to hire the nine LNG carriers, it is pointed out that disagreement with conditions stipulated in the tender is the major road block. India would require about 40 LNG carriers by 2025 to transport the fuel. LNG ships built locally are expected to be priced less as it is a profitable sector for yards.
Queries for comment on this development to L&T Shipbuilding and Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering remain unanswered.
