KOCHI: Aiming to develop Kochi as a major hub of ship building in the Indian Ocean region, the Cochin Shipyard inked a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding with HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Ltd (KSOE), a subsidiary of HD Hyundai, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, on Friday.
The MoU sets the stage for long term cooperation between the two companies in various domains of shipbuilding and maritime development, which includes joint exploration of ship building opportunities in India and abroad, sharing of technical expertise to scale up to the global standards in shipbuilding, identification of initiatives to enhance productivity and capacity utilisation and joint efforts to upskill and strengthen workforce.
KSOE is a global leader in shipbuilding and marine engineering, with proven expertise in designing and constructing commercial vessels, naval platforms, and offshore infrastructure. The company oversees the operations of some of the world’s largest shipyards, including Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.
“This is a strategic MoU which is expected to help both the CSL and KSOE develop facilities to build large merchant vessels. This opens the opportunity for a robust economic activity and will create huge employment opportunity. The Cochin Shipyard will gain technical expertise from the Korean method of shipbuilding, while the KSOE will gain access to the potentially fastest growing economy. Both the firms will be able to exchange knowledge in design equipment and skilling,” said Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director Madhu S Nair.
In May, 2025, the Drydocks World, a subsidiary of Dubai Port World had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cochin Shipyard to develop a ship repair and maintenance hub with offshore fabrication capabilities in Kochi. The Cochin Shipyard had commissioned a 310m drydock and International Ship Repair Facility in Kochi in 2024.
The development of the ship building facility supported by Hyundai and ship repair facility will help Kochi to grow as a major ship building and repair hub in the Indian Ocean region.
The CSL has delivered several landmark projects, including India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier and continues to serve premier domestic clients including the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and Shipping Corporation of India, with a track record of delivering 47 high-end vessels to international clients in countries like Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, USA, Germany, and the UAE.
The MoU with KSOE is a significant step toward strengthening India’s shipbuilding ecosystem through global collaboration and knowledge exchange, enhancing self-reliance and competitiveness in the maritime sector, the CSL said