The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), which operates and manages Kandla Port, has partnered with Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), to establish a state-of-the-art ship-repair hub in Gujarat at a cost of Rs 1,750 crore. Under the agreement, CSL will manage the repair operations at the Vadinar facility, paying a fixed lease rent and a royalty to DPA. The facility will have the capacity to repair 32 vessels annually. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been submitted to the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways for approval.
Cochin Shipyard Ltd has been offering ship repair services since 1982, specializing in the maintenance and refurbishment of various vessels, including those used in oil exploration. Ship repair capacity is typically measured by the number of vessels serviced and the maximum ship size (in deadweight tonnage or DWT) that can be accommodated.
Among public sector companies, CSL had the highest ship repair capacity in 2022-23 at 125,000 DWT, followed by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) at 80,000 DWT and Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) at 4,500 DWT. In the private sector, Waterways Shipyard Pvt. Ltd. (WSPL) led with a repair capacity of 8,000 DWT, followed by San Marine (7,800 DWT), Modest Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (6,000 DWT), and Mandovi Drydocks (5,000 DWT).
During 2022-23, a total of 439 ships were repaired across India, with 259 serviced by private companies and 180 by public sector firms, marking an increase from 319 ships in 2021-22. Among public sector entities, CSL handled the highest number of repairs (105 ships), generating revenue of Rs 549.26 crore, followed by Goa Shipyard Ltd. (44 ships) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (13 ships). Apart from shipbuilding yards, ship repair facilities are also available at major ports.
Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port (Kolkata) has the highest number of dry docks (5), while Mumbai Port Trust, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradip Port Trust, and Deendayal Port Trust each have one dry dock. Other major ports currently lack ship repair infrastructure. DPA has been operating a steel floating dry dock at Kandla since 1984, providing ship repair services. In 2022-23, the facility, which measures approximately 100 meters in length and 20 meters in width, serviced 39 vessels.
This collaboration between DPA and CSL is expected to significantly bolster India’s ship repair capacity, reducing dependency on foreign facilities and supporting the growth of the country’s maritime sector.
