Cochin Shipyard Hoping to Increase Share of Ship Repair Market

SP’s ShowNews (SP’s): Could you tell us about your first experience at Defexpo 2014?

Subramaniam: It is very interesting and a bit early to predict the response and interest for CSL. Certainly, we find Defexpo is the place that CSL should be on a regular basis considering our focus on warship-building programmes.

SP’s: What are the defined milestones for Indian aircraft carrier (IAC) I?

Subramaniam: The launch of INS Vikrant was indeed a historic milestone not just for CSL but also for the country. India joins a very select club of half a dozen nations capalbe of designing and building an aircraft carrier. The work on the IAC is proceeding at a brisk pace. The ship is being built in phases. The launch on August 12, 2013, signified the completion of phase I. The present work on phase II is targeted for end 2016. The aviation and weapons would be integrated in phase III.

SP’s: CSL wishes to be considered for the LPD (landing platform dock) programme, could you tell us about CSL capabilities in this field?

Subramaniam: CSL has demonstrted its capability for construction of warship by our work on Vikrant. We are confident of building and delivering the LPD for the Indian Navy.

SP’s: Could you give us details of CSL’s modernisation plans?

Subramaniam: We need to keep the momentum of growth and for this we need to invest in expansion and modernisation. The immediate focus is to look at increasing our share of ship repair market. For this CSL has taken about 40 acres of land from the Cochin Port Trust and would develop it with an international standard ship repair facility at a cost of about 480 crore.