Self reliance in ship building
India is truly becoming self-reliance in ship building capabilities with companies like Cochin Shipyard Limited, Mazgaon Dockyard and Garden Reach Shipbuilders. Indian Navy’s patrol vessels, corvettes, frigates, destroyers and now even the aircraft carriers like IAC Vikrant is constructed locally by these 3 Ship building companies.
Back on 28th July 2022, Indian Navy took the delivery of first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant’ from Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). At present the ship builder is constructing 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts (ASWSWCs) and it has also won an order for the construction of 6 Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) for the Indian Navy. The shipyard is also expanding its infrastructure, including a new dry dock, to cater for the construction of even larger ships including a next generation aircraft carrier.
New Dry-dock Project at Kochi
We also know that the discussions are happening around the third aircraft carrier for navy & Standing committee on Defence had made strong recommendation for third aircraft carrier for Indian Navy.
The good news is that Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is constructing New Dry Dock at an estimated cost of Rs.1,799 crores. CSL is augmenting its infrastructure including a massive new dry dock to cater for the construction of even larger ships including a Next Generation Aircraft Carrier of upto 75,000 tonnes for Indian Navy.
This dry-dock is conceived with a length of 310 M and will be a stepped dock with a width of 75 M at the wider part and 60 M at the narrower part. It will have a depth of 13 M and a drought of 9.5 M. In terms of the size of the dock and strength of the dock floor, this will be one of the largest dry docks in India. The new dry-dock when commissioned, will help CSL to have a more diversified product profile. This, dual purpose dry dock is planned essentially to tap the market potential of repairs/ construction of specialized and technologically advanced large vessels such as LNG vessels, Jack Up Rigs. Drill Ships, large dredgers, second Indigenous Aircraft carrier and repair of offshore platforms and larger vessels. The new dry dock can comfortably handle Aircraft Carriers of 70,000 T docking displacement and Tankers and Merchant vessels of 55,000 T docking displacement. The work on new dock is 76% complete and target completion date is Dec 2023.
Importance of new dry dock
The new dry dock is being built with 3rd aircraft carrier in mind. It will lead to faster construction of large vessels like aircraft carriers. As you all know the aircraft carriers has huge maintenance period of 2-3 months, these new dry docks will fasten the process. The new dry dock is right Segway towards enhancing India’s shipbuilding capability.
Indian Defense Analysis 