Cochin Shipyard (CSL) has delivered MS Heinz, the first vessel in the HS EcoFreighter series of multipurpose vessels (MPVs), to Germany-based HS Schiffahrts UG & Co, marking a significant milestone in the shipyard’s international commercial shipbuilding portfolio. The Delivery and Acceptance Protocol for the vessel was signed during a virtual ceremony on Monday.The agreement was formalised by S Harikrishnan, Director (Operations), Cochin Shipyard, and Heinz Josef Schepers, Director, HS Schiffahrts UG & Co, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. The delivery represents the first handover under the EcoFreighter programme being executed by CSL for the German shipping firm.Designed by Groot Ship Design of the Netherlands, the 7,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) HS EcoFreighter has been constructed at Cochin Shipyard in compliance with the classification rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the Norwegian risk management and classification society. The ice-class vessel is intended for worldwide operations and is capable of transporting a wide range of cargoes, including project and heavy cargo, steel coils, containers, timber, paper, dry bulk commodities and dangerous goods.The vessel features a raked stem incorporating the “Groot Cross-Bow” design, which is optimised for improved speed performance and fuel efficiency, along with a transom stern. It is equipped with a single large cargo hold fitted with six movable panels, allowing flexible cargo arrangements. Additional features include multiple grain bulkhead positions and a tween deck configuration to support diverse cargo requirements.Propulsion is provided by a medium-speed four-stroke diesel engine driving a controllable pitch propeller through a reduction gearbox. Commenting on the delivery, Madhu S Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard, said the handover of MS Heinz underscores CSL’s expanding capabilities and growing presence in the global commercial shipbuilding market.News source: The New Indian Express