The State-owned Cochin Shipyard and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) of Russia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and engage in design, development, and execution of contemporary, state-of-the-art vessels for inland and coastal waterways.
The MoU was signed between Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard, and Alexey Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, in the presence of Union Transport, Shipping and Waterways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.
A Cochin Shipyard press release quoted Mr. Gadkari as saying that inland waterways, cruise tourism, and RO-RO transportation had a huge potential for growth in India. “This collaboration will certainly bring in the much-needed product as well as market innovation while harnessing newer technologies,” the release quoted him.
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Water-based transport
The massive push to water-based transport through infrastructure development efforts under the SAGARMALA programme of the government will open up opportunities for specialised vessels. The MoU is an effort to get ready to cater to the demand for different kinds of vessels expected in the near and medium term, the release said.
USC, a joint stock company, is the largest shipbuilding holding in Russia incorporating around 40 enterprises including shipyards with more than 300 years experience which have been key contributors to the growth of inland waterways in Russia.
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CSL & USC will collaborate for the development of high-speed vessels, river-sea cargo vessels, passenger vessels, dredgers, and other watercraft for Indian waterways and coastal shipping. CSL had recently incorporated a joint venture company by the name HCSL (Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited) in Kolkata, with plans to set up an exclusive facility for construction and repair of vessels for inland and coastal waterways.