Drydocks World & Cochin Shipyard unite to strengthen India’s Maritime Infrastructure

MUMBAI : Drydocks World, a DP World company and a leading service provider for the maritime and offshore oil and gas, and renewable energy industries globally, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), driven by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India to enable development of Ship repair clusters, synergizing their mutual strengths. This is expected to bring global best practices to the Ship repair ecosystem in the country and add significant capacities. The MOU also provides for cooperation in potential offshore fabrication opportunities engaging other entities like major ports. This strategic collaboration will explore opportunities to develop ship repair clusters along India’s coastline leveraging the expertise of both organisations.

The MoU was signed in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Shri Piyush Goyal, Honourable Minister of Commerce And Industry, Government of India, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, and Mr Madhu S Nair, Chairman & Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited at the CEO- Connect: Dubai-India Economic Ties & Opportunities event in Mumbai.

By fostering cooperation between Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World, the partnership will play a crucial role in modernizing India’s maritime infrastructure, expanding the ship repair industry and generating new employment opportunities. Aligned with the Government of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the companies will jointly evaluate opportunities for:

• Developing Ship Repair Clusters in Kochi (Kerala) and Vadinar (Gujarat) to create world-class maintenance and repair facilities.
• Engaging with government entities such as major ports to enhance ship repair and offshore fabrication capabilities.
• Expanding collaboration into related areas such as offshore fabrication, marine engineering, and strategic infrastructure projects.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, said: “With a vast coastline and world-class ports, India is well positioned to become a global maritime hub. Our commitment to supporting the Government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 to build a robust maritime sector is unwavering. This partnership with Cochin Shipyard Limited will accelerate the development of cutting-edge ship repair and fabrication facilities, playing an important role in achieving this goal”.

Madhu S Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited, said, “It is a proud moment as we join hands with Drydocks World, to take Ship Repair and Conversions in India to the next level. This MoU marks the beginning of our effort at strategic collaboration aimed at leveraging the mutual strengths of two great organisations. Together, we aim to drive growth, capability, and global competitiveness in the sector in India” This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of India’s maritime sector positioning the country as a global leader. By combining the technical expertise and industry experience of Drydocks World and Cochin Shipyard Limited, the collaboration will further strengthen India’s position as a hub for maritime engineering and self-reliance under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.