Maersk and Cochin Shipyard partner to explore ship repairs and shipbuilding activities in India
A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration in ship repair, maintenance, and construction in India. This strategic partnership supports the Government of India's Vision 2047 maritime goals and aligns with the 2025-26 Union Budget initiatives aimed at positioning India among the world's top five maritime hubs.
With global ship repair yards facing capacity constraints, this collaboration marks a significant step in establishing India as a leading maritime service center. Under the MoU, Maersk will leverage its expertise as an off-taker for its global fleet to enhance CSL's capabilities, with a particular focus on container ship maintenance, repair, and drydocking operations.
"As we witness unprecedented growth in global maritime trade, our collaboration with CSL represents our commitment to strengthening India's maritime infrastructure. The first Maersk vessel repair at CSL, planned already for 2025, will mark the beginning of what we envisage as a long-term collaborative relationship."
- Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology, A.P. Moller - Maersk
"This partnership marks a significant milestone in CSL’s journey as the leading ship repairer in India. Combining Maersk's global expertise with CSL’s capabilities would help position ourselves to capture a larger share of the global ship repair and building market."
- Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited
The MoU outlines several key areas of collaboration, including:
- Sharing technical expertise to achieve global standards in ship maintenance.
- Exploring opportunities in ship repair, dry docking, and new vessel construction.
- Joint training programs promoting responsible industry practices.
- Skill development initiatives for both CSL employees and Maersk seafarers.
This partnership comes at a pivotal moment, aligning with the Indian government's Union Budget 2025-26 initiatives, which include the development of shipbuilding and repair clusters and the establishment of a dedicated Shipping Development Fund to provide long-term, low-cost financing for the sector.
By strengthening India's maritime capabilities, this collaboration is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the country's ship repair and construction industry. Initially, the focus will be on afloat repairs for vessels up to 7,000 TEU and dry-docking for ships up to 4,000 TEU, with plans to expand these capabilities over time.
