Many a time, when an Indian shipping company needs to dry-dock a large vessel, it faces an uncomfortable reality. India does not have the infrastructure to handle ships above 230 metres in length. So the ship travels to Dubai, Singapore, Bahrain or Colombo.
India, despite having 7–9 per cent of global maritime traffic passing within 300 nautical miles of its coastline, currently holds less than 1 per cent of the global ship repair market. And now, the Centre has taken concrete first steps to plug this gap.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs announced that it approved a ₹1,570 crore ship repair facility at Vadinar, Gujarat, to be jointly built and operated by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
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"Huge boost for India's maritime sector!" exclaimed Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, while tweeting the news. "It will enhance our ability to service large vessels, generate employment, boost ancillary industries and improve the competitiveness of our ports," posted PM Narendra Modi.
Vadinar was chosen for its natural deep draft of 15–18 metres without dredging, making it one of India's few ports capable of accommodating Capesize-class vessels without modification. Its proximity to Mundra and Kandla, two of the busiest ports on India's west coast, is an added advantage.
The facility is set to feature a 650-metre jetty and two large floating dry docks, allowing India to repair vessels up to 300 metres in length for the first time. It is expected to handle 34 ships per year and generate approximately 290 direct and 1,100 indirect jobs in ship repair, logistics, and ancillary industries.