Trans Asian Shipping launched new vessel

Trans Asian Shipping Services (Pte) Ltd, a subsidiary of Trans Asian Shipping Services (Pvt.) Ltd, based here, has launched a new vessel, the m. v. Karuthal, Exim News Service reports.
The christening ceremony of the vessel was held here last week when it was inaugurated by Mr Oommen Chandy, leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, in the presence of Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman of Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) and Mr T. Johnson, Chairman of the Trans Asian Group.
A host of dignitaries graced the occasion, including Mr Dominic Presentation (MLA), Mr V. K. Ibrahim Kunju (MLA), as well as Mr P. V. Xavier, Managing Director of Century Shipyard (a Trans Asian Group co.), where the vessel was built.
The 94-TEU capacity Karuthal, flagged in St. Kitts and Nevis, is a multi-purpose container vessel built this year at a cost of $3 million.
The ship is to be deployed by the Trans Asian Group and is currently scheduled to operate in the Middle East Gulf.
The vessel can operate in small ports the world over, thus extending the reach of containerised sea transportation to a far more number of ports than the traditional container ports existing and operating.
For example, Karuthal can operate between nearly 40 to 50 Major and non-major ports in India in a fully-loaded condition. A larger vessel, on the other hand, can perhaps operate between 15 and 18 ports in the country.
In Kerala, the vessel can operate in loaded condition at ports such as Azhikkal, Kannur, Beypore, Kozhikode, Munambam, Cochin Port, Thangassery, Kollam, Vizhinjam and Trivandrum with minor upgradation.
Trans Asian Shipping Services (Pte) Ltd was incorporated in Singapore in 2005. Its activities include operating as a liner shipping agency, chartering, vessel husbanding and logistics. It also functions as the Group’s regional office for South-East Asia and the Far East. With Karuthal, it has now also become a ship-owning company.
Trans Asian Shipping Services also has presence in Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Trans Asian Shipping Services (Pvt.) Ltd is into ship-owning, liner operations, coastal operations, agency and logistics.
The Group is also into plantations and development of corporate parks.

(Source: Transport Weekly)