Chowgule Shipyards has delivered Frisian Future, the first vessel built at its Mangaluru facility, with diesel-electric, wind-assisted propulsion system, to Boomsma Shipping of the Netherlands.
A release here said the cargo vessel delivered on Monday, , represents the future of the global shipping fleet, delivering roughly 30% lower emissions to conventional equivalents. The diesel-electric arrangement provides operational flexibility and improved efficiency across varying load conditions. Vessels of this type are increasingly being specified by European operators responding to tightening emissions regulation under IMO and EU frameworks.
Frisian Future is an 8,500 DWT foreign-going general cargo vessel built for Boomsma Shipping. Sailing under the Netherlands flag (IMO No. 1036824), the ICE class 1B vessel is classed with Lloyd’s Register and is compliant with SOLAS, MARPOL, and IMO Tier III requirements. The vessel incorporates a forward accommodation arrangement, optimising deck and hold geometry to maximise usable cargo volume, thereby enhancing efficiency in the carriage of project cargoes.
Chowgule Group managing director Arjun Chowgule said, “The delivery of Frisian Future confirms that the Mangaluru shipyard is operating as a modern facility capable of producing export-grade vessels to global standards. Mangaluru and Karnataka offer strong fundamentals for shipbuilding and we expect to build on this.”
The Mangaluru shipyard was formerly one of India’s largest private sector shipyards before entering bankruptcy. Chowgule Shipyards acquired the facility and had it recommissioned within 18 months — the fastest turnaround of a shipyard from bankruptcy anywhere in the world.
The first delivery follows three years after the acquisition closed — a timeline that includes the recommissioning of the launch facility and restoration of production infrastructure, alongside significant fresh capital expenditure to enhance capacity and productivity. The Mangaluru facility supports over 6,000 direct and indirect jobs and is positioned to contribute meaningfully to the regional industrial and maritime ecosystem as additional projects progress through the yard, the release added.
source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)