The newbuild program combines Dutch aluminium vessel design with Indian shipbuilding capabilities to advance sustainable inland waterway operations.
Dutch ship design company CoCo Yachts, in collaboration with Synergy Shipbuilders N Dock Works of India, has been awarded a contract by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, for the design and construction of four hybrid survey vessels for operation on National Waterway 1
The newbuild program marks a significant step in the modernisation of India’s inland waterways fleet, with the vessels set to support hydrographic survey, channel monitoring, and navigational safety operations along the country’s primary inland waterway corridor.
Each vessel will measure 24.0 meters in length with an 8.0-meter beam and will be constructed entirely in aluminium to optimise weight, fuel efficiency, and lifecycle durability. Accommodation capacity includes four crew members and two officers.
The vessels will feature a hybrid propulsion configuration incorporating twin Hydromaster Series 1 L-drives rated at 60 eKW each, coupled with fixed-pitch propellers. Designed for a service speed of approximately 7 knots, the vessels will operate primarily on battery power, supported by emergency diesel generators and roof-mounted solar panels integrated into the accommodation structure.
According to CoCo Yachts and Synergy Shipbuilders N Dock Works, the hybrid platform aligns with increasing demand for lower-emission inland vessel operations and reflects IWAI’s broader sustainability objectives for India’s inland waterways sector.
