Cochin Shipyard Seeks Global Partnerships to Boost Shipbuilding in India

Cochin Shipyard Ltd is actively seeking joint ventures with global shipbuilding majors to enhance its shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities. As part of a recent delegation to Korea and Japan, the company explored opportunities to build more ships for both domestic and international markets, which are currently dominated by Korean, Chinese, and Japanese shipbuilders.

In addition to joint ventures, Cochin Shipyard is considering establishing a new fabrication facility in Kochi to speed up the turnaround time for building ships from the new dry-dock. The current facility is inadequate for meeting the growing demand for faster turnaround times, especially for large merchant ships.

India’s significant expenditure on freight charges, predominantly paid to foreign shipping firms, highlights the need for a strong domestic shipping industry. As India’s economy grows, the demand for shipping services will increase, making an Indian-controlled or multinational shipping company based in India preferable. Plans to expand the Integrated Ship Repair Facility at Willingdon Island with additional workstations through a partnership with an overseas firm are also being considered.

Cochin Shipyard is also investing in the development of an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) for defense and civilian applications. Partial funding for this research and development project has been secured from the government. These initiatives aim to enhance the company’s capabilities and competitiveness in the global shipbuilding and ship repair market.

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