VISAKHAPATNAM: The Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) launched India's largest and most modern bulk carrier — m.v. Good Princess - in grand style on Wednesday morning.

The ship built, at a little over Rs.100 crore in 14 months by HSL with in-house design, was released from the slipway in the presence of all the workers and officers of the premier shipbuilding yard. It will be delivered to the Chennai-based Goodearth Maritime Limited (GML) in four months.

"It's a momentous occasion for everyone of us. We were able to rise to the occasion by building this majestic structure as per international specifications," HSL Chairman and Managing Director Ajit Tewari said.

Senior-most worker

The management also gave the honour of launching the ship to its senior-most worker Praful Ch. Rath who will be retiring soon, after working for 41 years. "It will remain the most memorable day in my life," a jubilant Rath remarked and thanked the management for its gesture in entrusting him the job to launch the vessel into the sea.

Incidentally, HSL launched a big ship from the slipway after a gap of over a decade. Now, the shipyard is bustling with activity with an order book of over Rs. 2,000 crore.

Rear Admiral Tewari exuded confidence that the restructuring package would also get the clearance from the Centre soon and the shipyard would see better days.

Good Princess is the second in the series of four bulk carriers with a capacity of 30,000 DWT ordered by GML. It has a length of 178 metres and width of 28 metres.

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