Reliance Defence delivers 1st ship after Pipavav takeover

Reliance Defence has delivered its seventh offshore supply vessel to Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) from its stable of indigenously designed and built ships, on an order valued at Rs 700 crore, the company said on Monday.

But this is the first vessel delivered by the shipyard after the take over of Pipavav Defence on January 18, 2016, the company statement added.

The vessel completed its sea-trials in two days to the satisfaction of ONGC and Indian Register of Shipping. The vessel will facilitate the buyer in substituting its older fleet and chartered vessels as well as bring in high level offshore operations, the statement said.

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The fleet has been designed as new generation vessels, with customised features for Indian waters and offshore fields. It can carry 1,800 tons of cargo at its deepest draught and is designed to carry varied cargo such as freshwater, cement and fuel oil, the company said.

The company has also served international clients like Transocean, Shelf Drilling, NPCC and Noble Energy.

Reliance Defence is the first private sector company in India to obtain the licence and contract to build warships and has the the only modular shipbuilding facility with a capacity to build fully-fabricated and outfitted blocks, the company said.