The Hindu Business Line : Kandla port plans global ship repair complex

Salient features
International mega shipyard will have a capacity to repair very large crude carriers up to 3 lakh DWT and all other types within the range.
The shipyard will have a large back-up area and repair jetty of length sufficient to cater to the needs of afloat repairs (post dry-docking and post-launching works).
Also a sufficient water depth.

Kochi , April 21

Considering the growing number of ships calling at Kandla, the port trust is planning to set up a mega international ship repair/shipbuilding complex.

The estimated cost of the project will be Rs 400 crore, and the port has initiated steps to invite global tenders to develop the facility, senior officials in the port told Business Line.

The port, situated 90 km from the mouth of Gulf of Kutch opening out in the Arabian Sea, can prove to be a convenient place for getting ships repaired at very competitive and reasonable cost. Moreover, the port has got huge potential for setting up a complex as the number of ships calling at the port is increasing, the officials added.

Facilities

According to officials, the international mega shipyard will have salient features such as capacity to repair very large crude carriers (VLCC) up to 3 lakh DWT and all other types within the range. The shipyard will have a large back-up area and repair jetty of length sufficient to cater to the needs of afloat repairs (post dry-docking and post-launching works) and a sufficient water depth.

The officials also pointed out that various floating craft have to be sent to Mumbai for dry docking entailing huge expenditure on waiting time for availability of dry dock, voyage expenses, repair expenses and so on.

Self-reliant

Kandla port, since inception, had a vision to be self-reliant on various fronts, and particularly for repairs of its ever-expanding flotilla. However, as the expansion of the port took place, bigger vessels started getting acquired, and, hence, the port had initiated action to procure a Steel Floating Dry Dock (SFDD) in early 1980s. This dock was commissioned and commenced its docking operations by the end of 1985 at New Kandla.

Till date, 462 vessels of various shapes, sizes and displacements have been dry-docked here for attending underwater repairs, hull maintenance and surveys by classification societies. None of the major ports has such a SFDD and this facility is very much in demand on the western coast. The maximum size of the vessel it can accommodate is 100 metres in length, 80 metres width and displacement of up to 2,650 mt, the officials said.

On bringing this project to reality, the officials said that the whole region in the vicinity of Kandla port would be buzzing with lot of industrial activities in the form of ancillary units to the shipbuilding/ship repair industry.