Cochin Shipyard Ltd said it will open a new ship-repair facility at Indira Dock of the Mumbai Port Trust.
Cochin Shipyard has been in the ship repair business since 1982 and is one of of India’s leading ship-repair companies.
“The signing the MoU with Mumbai Port Trust is in line with the company’s objective to have a pan-India presence and the Ministry of Shipping initiatives to create viable Ship-repair hubs all over India,” said Cochin Shipyard, which is listed on the bourses.
Cochin Shipyard will set up a “ship-repair eco-system” at the Mumbai port and would target both commercial as well as defence sectors.
Besides managing the existing facilities, Cochin Shipyard could also expand the repair capacity of the Indira Dock, it said.
The aim of the agreement is to develop a “world class integrated ship repair facility” at Mumbai, the Kerala-based company said.
“This would serve the increasing Ship Repair demands in Mumbai area, being one of the key port of India that connect internationally,” said Cochin Shipyard, a public-sector company.
The Indira Dock is home to Hughes Dry Dock, which is 305 meters long and 30 meters wide. The Hughes Dry Dock was built in 1914 and is one of the largest graving dry docks on the western coast of India.
Cochin Shipyard has signed an agreement that includes provisions for upgrading the facilities at Hughes Dry Dock, it said. The area is quite active as Mumbai Port Trust routinely gives the dock on lease to ship owners, Cochin Shipyard added.
Based on demand, it could also set up a Floating Drydock as well under the terms of the agreement.
At its Kerala facility, Cochin Shipyard repairs defence vessels, tankers, oil rigs, passenger vessels and port crafts.
It is the only yard which has undertaken dry-dock repairs to the Indian Navy’s Aircraft Carriers, the company said.