Ship repair yard to function from December

The proposed mini- ship repair yard on Willingdon Island is expected to start functioning in December. The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) authorities have started the procedures to take over the existing workshop and dry-dock of the Cochin Port Trust (CPT), which is being developed as the ship repair yard.

 Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan during his last visit to Kochi had completed the formalities to hand over CPT’s facility to the CSL. The CPT in May this year had invited a global expression of interest in this regard. Based on a detailed project report (DPR) by the Kerala Industrial and Technology Consultancy Organisation (KITCO), the port management had formulated a conceptual plan envisaging leasing out for 30 years its under-utilised workshop complex, including the dry dock and slipway, to develop the shipyard. The project is based on the lease model envisaged in the government guidelines for private sector participation in major ports, issued in 1996.

 As per the understanding between the CSL and the CPT, the latter will hand over the workshop and dry-dock along with 230 employees. “We can start operations at the new facility by December as certain infrastructure and skilled employees are already available there. Further augmentation of the facility will be carried out after conducting a study which will be completed by December. It is expected that an investment of `400 crore will be required for capacity augmentation,”the CSL authorities said.  The CPT will hand over its workshop complex, including the building and machinery in around 17 hectares of land (with 850 metres of water-front area). The proposed facility would be capable of handling vessels with an overall length of 130 metres, beam of 25 metres, maximum light weight in the dry-dock position of 6,000 tonnes.

 Minimum facilities and services to be put up and operated by the developer include a new dry docking facility, a ship-lift system with transfer tracks and parking bays, an afloat repair facility and associated facilities, such as workshops, machinery and fire-fighting facilities, pollution control and environmental protection measures.