Maersk partners with L&T for its first planned drydocking in India

Maersk will carry out its first planned drydocking in India, with the Singapore-flagged container vessel Maersk Chattogram scheduled to undergo the process at L&T Shipbuilding’s Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai in October 2026.

The operation marks the first major operational milestone under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Maersk and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) during India Maritime Week 2025. The agreement established a framework for exploring cooperation in shipbuilding, ship repair and knowledge exchange on global standards, with the aim of developing world-class capabilities, capacity and resources.

Maersk Chattogram is expected to arrive at the shipyard on October 20, 2026, subject to operational and weather conditions. The scheduled drydocking is part of the vessel’s regular maintenance cycle and will include a special survey, as well as maintenance and overhaul work on its hull and structure, machinery, equipment and propulsion systems.

Drydocking involves moving a vessel into a dry dock to facilitate detailed inspections, maintenance and repairs to areas normally submerged underwater, alongside work on machinery, equipment and propulsion systems. The process is essential to maintaining the vessel’s safety, seaworthiness, operational performance and reliability over the next five years. At L&T Shipbuilding’s Kattupalli facility, Maersk Chattogram will undergo a specialized lift-out operation using India’s largest shiplift system to raise the vessel out of the water.

"The drydocking of Maersk Chattogram in India is a meaningful step towards turning our collaboration with L&T into action. We are aligning Maersk's global technical requirements with India's growing shipyard, supplier and maritime-service capabilities. We believe India has strong potential to become an increasingly important global hub for maritime sector and we are committed to supporting that development through long-term partnerships, operational experience and knowledge sharing.”

Dinesh Kumar Balraj, Head of Fleet Operations East, A.P. Moller – Maersk

"The docking of Maersk Chattogram at Kattupalli advances our strategic partnership under the MoU and Framework Agreement signed between our organisations. Combining Maersk’s global maritime expertise with L&T’s shipbuilding capabilities, we aim to strengthen domestic capabilities and supply chains across the shipbuilding ecosystem. We share Maersk’s commitment to India’s maritime development and seek to play a key role in establishing India as a globally competitive maritime hub.

Arun Ramchandani, Head – Precision Engineering & Systems, L&T

The project is expected to involve Maersk’s fleet and technical teams, alongside L&T, Indian subcontractors, suppliers and maritime service providers. The parties will prioritize safety, operational efficiency, quality standards and the exchange of technical knowledge throughout the drydocking process.

The initiative underscores Maersk’s commitment to India’s maritime development and confidence in the country’s engineering expertise, infrastructure and potential across the maritime value chain. It also demonstrates the long-term vision of the Maersk-L&T partnership, translating an initial cooperation framework into a tangible vessel-maintenance project in India.