The Government of India opened three major shipping projects worth more than $481m (Rs40bn) in Kochi, Kerala, on 17 January. 

The projects, New Dry Dock (NDD) at CSL, the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL and the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) import terminal of the Indian Oil Corporation at Puthuvypeen, Kochi, were built in line with the country’s “vision to transform India’s ports and shipping”.

The country has emphasised its major role in global trade, which is why the government has “engaged in improving the strength of port cities like Kochi”. 

At the inaugural ceremony in Kochi today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted increased port capacity, investment in port infrastructure and improved connectivity of ports under government initiatives like the Sagarmala Project.

The government aims to build mega ports and shipbuilding and ship-repairing infrastructure in the country to “reinforce India’s maritime prowess”, the press release said. 

According to the Indian Government, Kochi Shipyard’s green technology capacities are focused on making ‘Make in India’ vessels.  

Talking about energy transition and clean energy solutions in November 2023, Hardeep Singh Puri, Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said: “India is at the centre of global energy scenario, not only because the country has the potential for economic growth and consumer demand, but also our leadership is aligned with new alternatives for the energy transition. We need new alliances, institutions and partnerships to ensure seamless, clean energy transition.”

“Kochi Shipyard is further strengthening our mission of taking India towards hydrogen fuel-based transport. I am confident that soon the country will also get indigenous hydrogen fuel cell ferries,” Modi said at the ceremony.

Project specifications

The NDD in Kochi, built for around $216.57m, is a “one-of-a-kind” 310m stepped dry dock. Its heavy ground loading can accommodate future aircraft carriers up to 70,000 tonnes (t) displacement and large commercial vessels.

The ISRF project costs around $116.7m and includes a ship lift system with a 6,000t capacity, six workstations and a berth of 1,400m that can accommodate seven vessels of 130m length. The project aims to modernise and expand CSL’s existing ship repair capabilities and “transform Kochi into a global ship repair hub”.

Indian Oil’s LPG Import Terminal in Kochi costs around $148.7 and has a storage capacity of 15,400 metric tons. The terminal will provide a “steady supply of LPG to millions of households and businesses in the region”.

The statement said these three projects could be key to India’s energy infrastructure growth. 

“India’s four-plank energy security strategy revolves around diversifying sources of supplies, a renewed focus on finding and producing more oil and gas domestically, switching to alternate energy sources and using gas and green hydrogen as a pathway to the energy transition,” Puri said.