Mumbai – Maersk (Maersk) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration opportunities in ship repair, maintenance, and building activities in India. This strategic partnership aligns with the Government of India’s Vision 2047 maritime objectives and recent Union Budget 2025-26 announcements to position India among the top five global maritime hubs.
The collaboration comes at a crucial time when the global shipping industry is expected to face capacity constraints in ship repair yards around the world. This partnership signifies a strategic step towards establishing India as a premier maritime service centre. Under the MoU, Maersk will leverage its expertise as an off-taker in its global fleet to strengthen CSL’s capabilities, primarily focusing on container ship maintenance, repair, and drydocking operations.
“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,” said Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology, A.P. Moller – Maersk.
The MoU encompasses several key areas of cooperation:
- Technical expertise sharing for achieving global standards in ship maintenance
- Exploration of ship repair, dry docking, and new building opportunities
- Joint training programs focusing responsible practices
- Skill development initiatives for both CSL employees and Maersk seafarers
The collaboration will initially focus on vessels up to 7,000 TEU for afloat repairs and up to 4,000 TEU for dry-docking, with capabilities expected to expand over time.
(Photo from Maersk)