Snapshot

• Why Kochi is iconic:
  Kochi is the epicenter of India’s shipbuilding industry, anchored by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), India’s largest public-sector shipbuilding and repair facility.
  Established in 1972, CSL is a global player in constructing tankers, passenger vessels, LNG carriers, naval warships, and aircraft carriers.
  The cluster also supports ship repair, marine engineering, offshore vessel manufacturing, and defense R&D, making it a strategic maritime hub for the Indian Ocean region.
  
• Global Positioning:
  CSL-built ships are exported to Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific markets, while Kochi has emerged as a key port city with a natural harbor, international container transshipment terminal, and defense shipbuilding excellence.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Defense Vessels	Aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), frigates, corvettes, patrol boats
Commercial Vessels	Oil tankers, bulk carriers, LNG carriers, passenger ships
Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs)	Anchor handling, supply ships, dredgers
Ferries & Ro-Ro Vessels	Inland and coastal ferries, hybrid-electric ferries
Ship Repair & Conversion	Upgrades, retrofitting, life extension of ships
Marine Engineering Services	Docking, testing, and marine system integration

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Largest Shipyard in India	Covers 170+ acres with 2 dry docks, largest dry dock in South Asia
Defense Production Hub	Builder of India’s first indigenously designed aircraft carrier
Export-Ready Expertise	Supplies specialized vessels globally, including European and Middle Eastern fleets
Integrated Ecosystem	Co-located suppliers, Cochin Port, Kochi Shipyard SEZ
Green Shipbuilding Initiatives	Hybrid and electric vessels, LNG-fueled ship design expertise

Materials & Sustainability

• Materials Used: High-strength marine steel, aluminum, composites, LNG storage steel, eco-friendly paints
  
• Innovation:
  
  • LNG-fuel technology for emission reduction
    
  • Use of CAD/CAM and 3D modeling for ship design
    
  • Hybrid-electric propulsion development
    
  • India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (INS Vikrant) built here
    
• Sustainability Initiatives:
  
  • Compliance with IMO Tier-III emissions and ballast water regulations
    
  • Green shipyard initiatives: solar rooftops, waste heat recovery, ZLD effluent systems
    
  • Development of fully electric ferries for inland water transport
    

Cluster Infrastructure

• Shipyard Facilities:
  
  • Dry Dock 1: 255m x 45m, capacity for large tankers and naval vessels
    
  • New Dry Dock: 310m x 75m, supports LNG and aircraft carriers
    
  • 2,500m of outfitting berths and workshops with automated fabrication lines
    
• Industrial Ecosystem:
  
  • Marine suppliers’ cluster at Willingdon Island and SEZ near Cochin Shipyard
    
  • Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command, Cochin Port Trust, and BPCL Kochi Refinery synergy
    
• Connectivity:
  
  • International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam
    
  • Kochi International Airport for cargo
    
  • Rail and road network to hinterland engineering hubs
    

Compliance & Certifications

Certification	Details
ISO 9001/14001/45001	Quality, environmental, and safety certifications
DNV GL & ABS Certification	Global marine classification standards
IMO & SOLAS Compliance	For international vessel safety and design
Green Ship Recycling Standards	MARPOL, EU, and HKC compliance
Naval Quality Assurance (NQA)	Defense-specific certifications

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Design to Delivery	MOQ Guidance
Naval Vessels	3–6 years	Project-based
Oil Tankers / LNG Carriers	24–36 months	Project-based
Ferries / Ro-Ro Vessels	12–18 months	1–5 vessels
OSVs & Specialized Vessels	18–24 months	Custom
Ship Repair & Retrofit	1–6 months	Continuous

Branding & Packaging

• Branding: Hull number engraving, international class certifications, project-specific traceability
  
• Packaging: Marine export packaging for components, modular shipment of ship sections
  
• Marketing Narrative:
  “Kochi: India’s maritime capital, home to Cochin Shipyard—the nation’s largest shipbuilding and repair hub, pioneering advanced naval engineering and green shipping solutions.”
  

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• Material QC: Marine-grade steel testing, ultrasonic and X-ray weld inspections
  
• Hull & Structural QC: 3D scanning, hydrostatic and stability tests
  
• System Integration QC: Propulsion system commissioning, automation tests
  
• Export QC: DNV/ABS inspections, IMO safety certifications, sea trials
  

Price Drivers

• Steel and alloy pricing for marine-grade materials
  
• Complex systems (LNG propulsion, automation) integration costs
  
• Defense project specifications and certifications
  
• Port logistics and dry dock utilization charges
  
• Skilled labor and R&D investment in vessel design
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• Defense & Export Legacy: India’s only yard to design and build an aircraft carrier (INS Vikrant)
  
• Global Standards: DNV, ABS, and IMO-certified shipbuilding capabilities
  
• Integrated Shipbuilding Ecosystem: Cochin Port, ICTT, suppliers, and SEZ support
  
• Innovation Leadership: Electric ferries, LNG propulsion systems, and green ship design
  

Government Backing: Public sector enterprise under Ministry of Shipping, strategic national asset