Historic feat: Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited builds 7 ships in 358 days

Kasaragod, Kerala: In a major milestone, Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (Udupi CSL), Malpe in Karnataka State, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), has built and delivered seven vessels within a year.

This is the first time an Indian shipyard has constructed seven vessels in such a short span, just 358 days. The achievement has also brought in revenue of around ₹605 crore.

The vessels include five cargo ships, each with a capacity of 3,800 tonnes, built for Norway-based Wilson Ship Management AS, and two tugboats with a capacity of 70 tonnes each for Oceans Sparkle, a company under Adani Harbour Services.

Typically, building a single ship takes 18 to 20 months. However, this rare feat was accomplished in less than a year.

Chief Executive Officer A. Harikumar said the achievement was possible due to the dedicated efforts of around 1,200 employees working across multiple shifts.

The shipyard was formerly Tebma Shipyard Limited, a private firm that had shut down after incurring losses. It was acquired by Cochin Shipyard in 2020, with shipbuilding operations resuming in 2021. Within three years, the company has turned profitable.

Currently, the construction of eight vessels for Wilson and 10 tugboats for Indian companies is underway at the yard.