L&T bags Rs 440 crore ship building contract

Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has formally launched its shipbuilding venture by securing a key contract for construction of four ships valued at over Rs 440 crore from Netherland-based Zadeko Ship Management CV.

The vessels will be built at a new shipyard that will form part of the company's engineering complex at Hazira, Surat. The shipbuilding is scheduled to commence in July, 2006.

Described in technical terminology as RO-RO/LO-LO semi-submersible, heavy lift container cargo ships, these highly specialised vessels are being made in India for the first time.

The vessels have a deadweight capacity of over 8250 tonnes, 17000 cubic metres of cargo hold and can carry 830 TEU of containerised cargo.