In an attempt to shape Kerala’s Kochi into a global ship repair hub, the public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd will begin the work on its Rs 970-crore International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) on Friday (November 17).
Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will perform the ground breaking ceremony for the ISRF at Cochin Port Trust where CSL has leased out a 40-acre plot for developing the project.
“It will be a red letter day for not only for CSL, but the entire State of Kerala and the nation as a whole since the ship repair facility of global standard is being designed to cater to the needs of ships from across the world,” Cochin Shipyard Chairman and Managing Director Madhu S Nair, said.
“On completion within two years, Kochi will be a Major Ship Repair hub in India generating an additional employment of around 1500 personnel”, Nair said.
ISRF is a Rs 970-crore project approved by the Government of India in May 2016. CSL will set up a ship lift system of 130 m x 25 m size, with lifting capacity of 6000 tons and 6 workstations. The facility can repair up to 85 vessels, and CSL will thereby be almost doubling the number of ships that can be repaired per year.
At Kochi, Gadkari will also inaugurate a unique event – Build The Ship 2017 – being organized by the Ministry of Shipping. The event will deliberate upon the recommendations of a study regarding the growth strategies and the recommendations for promotion of Shipbuilding, Ship Design, Ship Repair and Marine Ancillaries in India.
Apart from the officials from Ministry of Shipping and other Regulatory Authorities, a galaxy of dignitaries from Major Ports, Shipping Companies. Shipyards, Ship Designers, Ancillary Industries, Academicia, and Financial Institutions will attend the sessions.
Incorporation of ‘Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited’, a joint venture between CSL and HDPEL, an initiative of Ministry of Shipping into the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair services for Inland & Coastal Waterways Sector, will also be staged at Build The Ship 2017.
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