Cochin Shipyard Delivers Second Ice-Class Vessel ‘MS Maria’ to German Firm

India’s state-run Cochin Shipyard Limited has delivered MS Maria, the second vessel in an eight-ship HS EcoFreighter series of Multi-Purpose Vessels, to German shipping company HS Schiffahrts UG (haftungsbeschränkt) & Co KG, reinforcing the Indian shipbuilder’s growing international footprint.

Who signed off on the delivery and where?

The formal Delivery and Acceptance Protocol was executed in Kochi between S Harikrishnan, Director of Operations at Cochin Shipyard, and Heinz Josef Schepers, Director of HS Schiffahrts, marking the official handover of the 7,000 DWT vessel.

Who designed the vessel and what classification standards does it meet?

MS Maria was engineered by Netherlands-based Groot Ship Design and constructed to the classification standards of DNV. The vessel features a raked stem with the trademark “Groot Crossbow” bow design, paired with a transom stern, giving it a hydrodynamic profile that reduces wave resistance, improves speed and performance, and lowers fuel consumption.

What cargo capabilities does the vessel offer?

Designed for commercial trade in ice-prone waters, MS Maria is built to transport a wide range of cargo, including project cargo, heavy machinery, steel coils, dry bulk, timber, paper, grain, coal and dangerous cargoes. Its versatility comes from an adaptable cargo hold fitted with six movable panels that allow customisation for specific cargo types, along with grain bulkheads at multiple points and a tween deck arrangement.

What does this delivery mean for Cochin Shipyard’s international standing?

The handover of MS Maria highlights Cochin Shipyard’s expanding presence in the international shipbuilding market and demonstrates the Indian yard’s growing capability to construct eco-friendly, technically sophisticated vessels for global clients. Operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Cochin Shipyard is currently working on the remaining six vessels in the EcoFreighter series.

What does this signal for India’s shipbuilding export ambitions?

The delivery adds to Cochin Shipyard’s track record of executing complex international newbuild orders, reinforcing India’s positioning as a credible destination for European shipowners seeking specialised, ice-class and multi-purpose vessel construction, alongside the country’s broader push to expand its share of the global commercial shipbuilding market.