New Delhi: In a boost to indigenous industry in the defence sector, India’s first Hydrogen-fuelled electric vessel being developed at the Cochin Shipyard Limited is expected to be delivered by March-April 2023.
In a bid to kick-start the country’s efforts toward green shipping, India’s first indigenous Hydrogen-fuelled electric vessel which is being developed at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is expected to be delivered by March-April next year, said CSL chairman and managing director Madhu S Nair.
The construction of the hydrogen-fuelled electric vessel, which is a pilot project is halfway complete with its engineering done and construction, is expected to start very soon, said Nair further adding that the order to purchase the necessary equipment will be done shortly.
Addressing the media in Kochi on the construction of the ship lift-based shipyard, he said that the facility is expected to be commissioned by December 2023 following which Kochi will become a ship repair hub after it is commissioned.
“We are repairing 100 ships per year now. After this we will be commissioned to repair 150-160 ships per year”, he added. Nair said that the estimated cost for the construction of the ship lift-based shipyard at Wellington Island in Kochi is Rs 970 crore. For this, around 42 acres of land have been taken on lease for 30 years.
“This is for medium-sized ships with a maximum length of 130 meters, a width of 25 meters, and a weight of 6,000 tons. There will also be a facility where six such ships can be parked together and lifted, along with a one-and-a-half-kilometre berth,” he said.
He said at least 3,000 people will get jobs leading to major economic growth, adding that there are 9,000 employees in the shipyard at present and two expansion projects are presently underway in Kochi worth Rs 2,800 crore.
“After this will be completed, a minimum of 3,000 people will get jobs, thus an economic growth as well. We are scheming much larger export orders and defence orders. We have 14 defence orders worth Rs 6,500 crore and have signed the next generation missile vessels worth Rs 9,000-10,000 crore, as well,” he said adding that they have taken orders for 8 ships from Germany as well.
