Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Madhu S Nair said recently that the pilot project for India’s first indigenous hydrogen-fuelled electric vessel may sail soon, by the first quarter of next year. The fuel cell is being developed by a Pune based organisation, relying on Indian technology.
We have completed the engineering of the project and the construction will begin very soon as the order for equipment required is placed.”
Mr. Madhu S Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
When asked about the ship-lift based shipyard at Wellington Island (Kochi), he said “For this project, we have taken 42 acres of land on lease for 30 years, where the ship lift-based shipyard will be built. This is only for medium-sized ships with a maximum length of 130 metres, a width of 25 metres and a weight of 6,000 tons.”
He also stated that despite the pandemic related disruptions, the shipyard work is 77% complete. He proudly added that once the shipyard project is complete, Kochi will be called the ‘ship repair hub’ and will work on 150-160 ships per year.
The Wellington Island shipyard will also be providing employment to an additional 3,000 people apart from the current 9,000 it employs. Nair informed that they currently have 14 defence orders worth INR 6,500 crore and have also signed the next generation missile vessels worth INR 9,000-10,000 crore, adding that they have they have taken orders for eight ships from Germany as well.
