Maersk (Maersk) and Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic collaboration opportunities in ship repair, maintenance, and building activities in India. This partnership aligns with the Government of India’s Vision 2047 maritime objectives and the Union Budget 2025-26 initiatives, aiming to position India among the top five global maritime hubs.
With the global shipping industry expected to face capacity constraints in ship repair yards, this collaboration marks a crucial step towards establishing India as a leading maritime service centre. Under the MoU, Maersk will leverage its global fleet expertise to enhance CSL’s capabilities, with a primary focus on container ship maintenance, repair, and dry-docking operations.
Commitment to Strengthening India’s Maritime Infrastructure
Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology, A.P. Moller – Maersk, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating,
“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.”
Advancing CSL’s Leadership in Ship Repair
Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, saying,
“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.”
Key Areas of Collaboration
The MoU outlines several key areas of cooperation, including:
- Technical Expertise Sharing: Achieving global standards in ship maintenance
- Exploring New Opportunities: Ship repair, dry-docking, and new building ventures
- Skill Development and Training: Joint programs for responsible practices and skill enhancement for CSL employees and Maersk seafarers
This collaboration is strategically timed with the Indian Government’s announcements in the Union Budget 2025-26, which focus on establishing shipbuilding and repair clusters and creating a dedicated Shipping Development Fund. The initiative aims to provide long-term, low-cost financing for the sector, boosting India’s maritime capabilities.
Initially, the collaboration will focus on vessels up to 7,000 TEU for afloat repairs and up to 4,000 TEU for dry-docking, with potential for capacity expansion in the future.
This strategic partnership between Maersk and CSL signifies a pivotal step towards enhancing India’s maritime infrastructure, supporting the nation’s ambition to emerge as a global maritime powerhouse.