Even as a techno-commercial study by Kerala state firm Kitco on the feasibility of Cochin Shipyard (CSL) setting up a slew of facilities, including a drydock, on the Chennai Port premises is under way, the yard is believed to have raised apprehensions over the paucity of adequate space at the Chennai Port.
The Hindu has reliably learnt that the yard is now examining various options for optimum utilisation of the 48,400 sq m land area and 61,000 sq m water spread area available on 30-year-lease for the purpose. The feasibility study by Kitco is likely to be over by this month-end.
Nudged by the Ministry of Shipping, the yard — which has already taken up a similar project on Cochin Port premises at an estimated cost of Rs 487 crore — early this year showed interest in developing a drydock capable of carrying out ‘afloat’ repair of vessels. The tender document said the developer would have the option of erecting a shiplift and/or a floating drydock as it deemed appropriate. It also left to the discretion of developer the scale and nature of ancillary facilities required alongside.
Sources at CSL said though the yard was interested in the project, the quantum of facilities that could be put up at the space available could only be gauged after the completion of the feasibility study. “A financial bid will then follow,” they said.
A spokesperson of the yard said it had delivered seven ships, including two high-end platform supply vessels and fast patrol vessels for the Coast Guard, in the just-concluded financial year. The year also saw the yard launch the most prestigious warship of the Indian Navy, the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is slated to be commissioned into service in 2018. “The yard delivered 40 ships during the period 1975-2000; 14 ships in the period 2001-2005; 29 ships during 2006-2010; and would deliver 16 ships during 2011-2015 despite the industry being in the doldrums,” said the spokesperson.
She said the yard consistently paid dividends to the Union governments for the last five years. Its total contribution to the national exchequer in the last five years was around Rs. 900 crore as against a Government of India investment in the shares amounting to Rs. 113 crore, she pointed out.
