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April 11, 2005 turned out to be a red letter day in Indian shipping. That is when the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri T.R. Baalu launched the construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. It was a proud moment indeed for all those who had gathered to witness the historic moment. India has now joined the elite group of the USA, UK, Russia, France and Italy who can build their own aircraft carriers. With this, the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. has secured one more feather to its hat. Commenting on their achievement, the Minister said, ‘ I am here today to watch you embark on a journey which would determine the destiny of this Yard, and more importantly this nation’. In Admiral Arun Prakash, the Chief of Naval Staff was equally elated. The day will be seen as a significant milestone in our maritime history, he said. He complimented the Cochin Shipyard on undertaking a prestigious job like building an aircraft carrier.
The Cochin Shipyard has been building ships since 1978. Of the total eight shipyards in the country, Cochin is among the only two shipyards capable of building large size ocean-going merchant vessels.
With a total manpower consisting more than two hundred executives and almost equal number of supervisors and nearly two thousand workmen, the Cochin Shipyard secured export orders in shipbuilding worth more than Rs. 900 crore in the last three years. Over the years the yard could reduce the average time of construction of large ships by upgrading its facilities.
The Cochin Shipyard has completed two offshore projects for the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India (ONGC), “Clamp-on-structures” at Bombay High, both ahead of schedule. It has collaboration with several specialized ship building firms across the globe.
By entrusting the construction the prestigious aircraft carrier to the Cochin Shipyard, not only the Indian Navy but the country as a whole has reposed its trust in the capabilities of the Cochin Shipyard.
*Inputs from Sudha S Namboothiry, AIO, PIB, Cochin
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