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MARITIME SERVICES | UNION TRANSPORT
BACKGROUND
Newbuildings: Deliveries from India
On the one hand, Max Heinimann is
clever enough not to take any incalculable
risks. On the other, he is pragmatic
enough to have vessels built in India.
When asked about his motives, he
says, “There were three reasons why I
decided to build in Goa: fi rstly, the price
was attractive; secondly, so was the
delivery date; and thirdly, the shipyard
was recommended to me. Sure, I also
had interesting offers from China and
Vietnam. But the shipyards in those
countries couldn’t deliver before 2009.”
On a personal note: What impressed
Max Heinimann was that
Ashok Chowgule, the Indian shipyard
director, came to visit him in Bromley,
south London, where the company has
been based since 1985. Heinimann is a
man who appreciates personal contact.
There are limits as to the esteem that
one can convey by phone or e-mail.
On-site, the vessel’s construction
was supervised by a representative of
the shipowning company who sent daily
progress reports by e-mail. Heinimann’s
technical staff were queuing up to
Chowgule & Company
Chowgule & Company Ltd. is in the
vanguard of exploiting inland waterways
in Goa. Nowadays, the Indian
company builds a wide range of maritime
vessels, ranging from ore-carrying
barges, grab and suction dredgers and
deep-sea fi shing trawlers to offshore
drilling rigs, tugs, pontoons, launches,
hopper barges and coastal vessels.
The company’s yards are situated in
Loutulim and Rassaim, Goa. The construction
grounds include a slipway
of 220 to 20 metres as well as two
construction bays of 90 to 40 meters
in the North Sea. The company was also used by other
customers from the oil industry.
Its Own Shipyard
In 1977 Max Heinimann got to know Tony Lapthorn, who
was running a small shipping business on the River Medway.
Together they bought the Acorn Shipyard in Rochester,
which was mainly engaged in ship repairs. From then
on, their vessels were repaired, overhauled and painted at
their own shipyard. They won other shipping companies as
28 nonstop 4/2006
handle the project. The Union team is
highly motivated anyway thanks to an
attractive bonus package and a good
working atmosphere. Over the years the
company has succeeded in optimizing
processes and increasing its customer
base.
Diffi cult: In recent decades, Union
Transport has gained a lot of experience
in building new vessels – in the
Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and
the UK. The experience was not always
good, though: we had to cancel
a contract for four coastal vessels
with an option for another two.
Ironic: The two vessels which
were not accepted are now part of
Union Transport’s fl eet anyway, since
the company took over a competitor.
Business: An order for four
newbuildings has been placed with
Chowgule and Company Shipyard (see
below) in Goa. These multi-purpose
dry cargo carriers are 89.94 metres
long and 14.4 metres wide, and have
a carrying capacity of 4450 dwt. The
fi rst vessel’s keel-laying ceremony
Pakistan
Miles
0 500
India
Loutulim
Marmagoa
Loutulim
China
Bay of
Bengal
SRI LANKA
Panaji
GOA
Arabian Sea
India
each. Up to now, more than 100 vessels
have been built at the Chowgule &
Company Shipyard, which also holds
“Attractive price,
convenient delivery
date and convincing
quality” Max Heinimann
took place on 23 May 2006 at the new
shipyard site Rassaim. Delivery is
planned for July 2007. The name “Union
Ruby” has also been decided on.
an International Ship Repair Licence
issued by the Directorate General of
Shipping (Mumbai) and takes care
of repairs of sea-going vessels.
In 2005 Chowgule received orders for six
MPP cargo ships from a joint venture
with Navigia, a subsidiary of shipbuilder
Rudolf Schöning and Apollo Shipping.
Including the four Union Transport
newbuildings Chowgule’s order book
presently lists 20 MPP cargo ships of
4,450 dwt involving European owners.
The plan is to deliver the fi rst in the
series to Navigia in January and the
fi rst of the Union Transport vessels in
May 2007. On the whole, six newbuildings
are due for delivery in 2007.
customers, and as a result capacities were fully utilized. In
1986 Union Transport bought Lapthorn’s stake in the undertaking,
and in 2000 it added the Quarry Shipyard, which
was located opposite Acorn on the Medway. This increased
Union Transport’s capacities substantially, paving the way
for a successful future. ■ SB/OM
For further information: Harald Seibicke, Area Manager Benelux/Northwest Europe
and Secretary British Committee, Phone: +31 10 2040404;
E-Mail: harald.seibicke@gl-group.com