A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore 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 recent Union Budget 2025-26 announcements to position India among the top five global maritime hubs, Maersk said in a statement. The collaboration comes at a 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,” the company said. 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,” said Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology, A.P. Moller – Maersk.
“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,” he added. “This partnership marks a significant milestone in CSL’s journey as the leading ship repairer in India,” said Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
“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,” he added.
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.
Published – February 17, 2025 09:08 pm IST
