By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Colombo Dockyard PLC announced yesterday it has been selected as an afloat repair service provider to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces (JMSDF) at the Colombo Port.
This is the first time for JMSDF to repair one of their vessels at a foreign shipyard, and Colombo Dockyard is selected as the first shipyard in a foreign country to offer the repair facilities.
The afloat repair was successfully carried out from 21 to 25 July 2023 at the port of Colombo.
The JMSDF team was highly impressed and satisfied with the superior quality workmen-ship and the service level of Colombo Dockyard. The team also commended on the quality of the underwater diving work handled during this call.
Colombo Dockyard Chairman Hideki Tanaka, highlighted that we are proud and privileged to be selected as the first shipyard to provide repair services for the JMSDF fleet in a foreign country.
He also took this opportunity to appreciate the support extended by the JMSDF, Embassy of Japan, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ministry of Defence, and the Sri Lanka Navy to make this historic repair call a success.
Colombo Dockyard operating in collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd. since 1993, has proven to be a remarkably successful partnership spanning 30 years, serving the regional and international owner’s requirements efficiently in the maritime industry.
Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd, Japan being a well-respected shipyard in Japan, being the mother company of Colombo Dockyard PLC, paved the way for Colombo Dockyard to enter into serving the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force vessels.
The COVID pandemic and the Sri Lanka economic crisis led to the cancellation of significant projects and they were at the risk of losing their standing in the international market, said Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) Chairman Hideaki Tanaka.
“However, with the crisis settling in we managed to bounce back to business and the achievement of delivering ‘C/S Sophie Germain,’ Cable Laying and Repair Vessel ((CLRV)) serves as a powerful message to the international market that we are back in business,” he said.
CDPLC has made history by delivering the first-ever CLRV to the European market from Sri Lanka. This vessel is built to Bureau Veritas (BV) classification society standards and regulatory requirements of the French Flag Authority.
The vessel is 100m in length with a beam of 18.8m and a depth of 7.15m and shall have a deadweight capacity of 1,800 DWT. The vessel can achieve an impressive speed of 14.5 knots and has accommodation facilities for 76 persons.
The vessel has three cable tanks to carry fibre optic and power cables. One of the three tanks is fitted with a Carousel system.
Colombo Dockyard delivered the first Cable Layer (CLV) to Japan in 2019. Now, with the delivery of “C/S Sophie Germain,” this becomes the second vessel of its category delivered by the shipyard.
This remarkable accomplishment establishes Colombo Dockyard as a leading player in the international market, earning a reputation for successfully delivering two Cable Layer vessels within a short span of just five years.
