KOCHI: Aiming to tap the opportunities in the ship-building and repairing industry in the country, the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) is planning to set up a ship repair yard in Willingdon Island.The project is part of a master plan being prepared by the port to redevelop its waterfront and other facilities which were virtually idling away, following the commissioning of the Vallarpadam Transshipment Container Terminal.The Cochin Shipyard Ltd had initially evinced interest in the project, with CPT holding discussions with the Shipyard authorities. However, the idea was dropped by the managements as the matter of absorbing employees remained unsolved. It is learnt that the CSL was ready to absorb only a few employees. “There is a tremendous business opportunity for a ship repair yard in Kochi. After Mangalore, Cochin Shipyard has the only repairing facility in South India. The other facility lying nearby is in Colombo. This itself is the main reason for thinking of setting up a repair yard in Willingdon Island,” Cochin Port Trust chairman Paul Antony said. He further said that a global tender would be floated soon after the Cochin Port Trust director board approved the project.The Port Trust will provide 850m of waterfront on the Mattanchery channel and 45 acres of adjoining land for the project. This is in addition to the existing workshop and other facilities. The land surrendered by the Food Corporation of India and the Timber Yard has been allotted for the purpose.The proposed yard will have the facility to service commercial vessels, offshore supply and service vessels, Coast Guard and Navy vessels, Port service vessels and dredgers of an overall length up to 165m and beam width up to 26 metres, the port authorities said.
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