‘Sagar Tara’ will house state of the art laboratories equipped with modern scientific instruments.
Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Chairman, ESSO and Chairman, Earth Commission stated, "Augmenting Coastal and Oceanic Research capabilities of the country have always been a priority for the Indian Government. With this new vessel that NIOT will now proudly own, our research and exploration competencies will rise up further benefiting the country and her citizens in multiple dimensions."
On this auspicious day, Jagdish Prasad Chowdhary, Executive Chairman, Titagarh Wagons Limited, stated, "Today at Titagarh, we have the unique distinction of launching three ships within a record time. The first of the two coastal research vessels for NIOT which was launched today will strengthen the research capabilities of Indian Maritime and Oceanic study. These research vessels are built with state-of-the-art technology and have most modern equipment fitted.
In the next few months Sagar Tara will undergo outfitting of accommodation areas as well fitment of scientific instruments in the laboratories. TWL aims to deliver the vessel to NIOT by May 2019 again almost 3 months ahead of schedule. The work on the second NIOT vessel is also under progress and TWL aims to launch it around mid 2019.
Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Titagarh Wagons Limited, said: "TWL forayed into shipbuilding only last year with two significant orders from Indian Navy and National Institute of Ocean Technology for building four highly complex vessels. Our excellent team has been working non-stop to complete the projects in record time. It is a moment of great satisfaction that as a Company we are substantially contributing to India's naval security and helping to augment research technology."
Titagarh Wagons is the only Indian Company to have access to technology for manufacture of Metro Coaches through its wholly owned subsidiary Titagarh Firema S.p.A in Italy.
Titagarh Wagons has already obtained new orders from Government of West Bengal for building small vessels and has participated in various tenders. These orders are likely to be from Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Shipping Corporation of India.
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