Kolkata: Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL) has achieved a major milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding and green mobility initiatives with the successful launch of the sixth 50-passenger hybrid-electric catamaran, named MV Major Dhyanchand. The vessel is being built for the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
With the launch of this vessel, HCSL has completed the launch of all six catamarans in the series, marking significant progress in the development of modern, environmentally friendly passenger vessels for India’s inland waterways.
The milestone highlights HCSL’s shipbuilding capabilities, engineering expertise and commitment to supporting sustainable water transport. It also reflects India’s broader efforts to strengthen domestic shipbuilding and promote cleaner transportation solutions.
HCSL Completes Launch of Six Hybrid-Electric Passenger Catamarans
The sixth vessel, MV Major Dhyanchand, was launched by Smt. Nitha K., Assistant General Manager at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited.
The launch ceremony was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of HCSL, the Director of IWAI (Kolkata), surveyors from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), IWAI representatives, and senior officials and employees of HCSL.
The successful launch of all six vessels represents an important achievement for the shipyard and the project partners involved in the construction programme.
The catamarans are designed to carry up to 50 passengers each and are intended to support passenger transportation on India’s inland waterways. The completion of the launch phase demonstrates the coordinated efforts of HCSL’s workforce and stakeholders throughout the vessel construction process.
Key Highlights of the Project
- Shipbuilder: Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL)
- Vessel name: MV Major Dhyanchand
- Vessel type: Hybrid-electric passenger catamaran
- Passenger capacity: 50 passengers
- Client: Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
- Latest milestone: Successful launch of the sixth vessel
- Project achievement: All six catamarans in the series have now been launched
- Launch ceremony: Conducted by Smt. Nitha K., Assistant General Manager, HCSL
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Hybrid-Electric Propulsion to Support Green Water Transport
The catamarans feature hybrid-electric propulsion technology, which can help reduce dependence on conventional fuels and lower emissions compared with traditional propulsion systems, depending on operating conditions and the energy sources used.
Hybrid-electric systems combine electric propulsion with another power source, offering operational flexibility and supporting more environmentally responsible transportation.
The development of these passenger vessels aligns with India’s efforts to modernise inland water transport and encourage cleaner mobility solutions. Inland waterways can provide an alternative mode of passenger transportation while supporting regional connectivity.
The adoption of hybrid-electric technology in passenger vessels also reflects the growing importance of energy-efficient solutions in the maritime and inland shipping sectors.
Strengthening India’s Indigenous Shipbuilding Capabilities
The successful launch of all six catamarans highlights HCSL’s contribution to India’s domestic shipbuilding industry. The project demonstrates the shipyard’s ability to build modern passenger vessels using indigenous engineering and shipbuilding expertise.
The programme also reflects the importance of collaboration among shipbuilders, government agencies, classification societies and other project partners in delivering vessels that meet operational and technical requirements.
Key contributions of the project include:
- Indigenous shipbuilding: Strengthening domestic capabilities in the construction of modern passenger vessels.
- Sustainable mobility: Supporting the development of lower-emission transportation options for inland waterways.
- Passenger connectivity: Contributing to the availability of modern vessels designed for inland passenger services.
- Engineering expertise: Demonstrating HCSL’s technical capabilities in hybrid-electric vessel construction.
- Waterway modernisation: Supporting wider efforts to improve India’s inland water transport infrastructure.
IWAI’s Role in Developing Inland Water Transport
The Inland Waterways Authority of India is responsible for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. Its initiatives support the improvement of waterway infrastructure and the promotion of inland water transport as an alternative mode of transportation.
The construction of the six hybrid-electric catamarans forms part of efforts to introduce modern passenger vessels suited to inland waterway operations.
The launch of MV Major Dhyanchand, completing the launch of all six vessels in the series, marks further progress in the development of passenger transport infrastructure and the adoption of cleaner vessel technologies.
About Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL)
Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL), located in Howrah, West Bengal, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Government of India enterprise. Operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, HCSL specialises in shipbuilding and ship repair.
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