Sesa Goa has a shipbuilding division which mainly builds barges for their own fleet.

This is the launching of vessel #60 - barge "Toni" named after the MD's wife, Toni Brown. Capacity is 2000 t.

Here Chris Brown performs the punja, the Hindu blessing ceremony. This was followed by a Catholic blessing.

On the Barge

Carolyn with the GM Shipbuilding and GM Shipping

Launching

The launch was made sideways into the Mandovi River. The workers like to give it a "help".

Afloat

"Toni" finally is afloat. After 2 weeks fitting out she will join Sesa's barge fleet, making a total of 10 vessels.

"Toni" on the Mandovi

On April 2, "Toni" undertook her first river trial. This event was delayed a day because the customs superintendent wouldn't issue the clearance to allow "Toni" on the river. It turned out her husband used to work for Sesa, left in a huff when he didn't get a promotion and was getting his wife to pay back. Our fleet manager had to get the Customs boss to sort her out, certificate issued and away we went. Just another normal day with Indian bureaucracy. (Another one - the merger of 2 of our companies was held because of of the many bodies that has to give approval has their office next to ours and every time there is a power cut - at least 3 times a day - our generator cuts in and they are upset with the noise it causes. And because they don't have a generator.)