Maersk, Cochin Shipyard to explore ship repairs & shipbuilding biz

Maersk and Cochin Shipyard (CSL) signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration opportunities in ship repair, maintenance and building activities in India.

The 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, says an official release from Maersk.

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, the release added.

"As we witness unprecedented growth in global maritime trade, our collaboration with CSL represents our commitment to strengthening India's maritime infrastructure," says Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management & Technology, 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."

Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Cochin Shipyard adds: "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.”

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, the release added.