Cochin Shipyard to launch three advanced vessels, marking major milestone in India’s shipbuilding drive

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), one of India’s premier public-sector shipbuilders, is set to launch three technologically advanced vessels on Saturday — underscoring its growing expertise across naval defence, commercial, and green shipping segments.

The triple launch will include an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) for the Indian Navy, a Hybrid Electric Methanol-Ready Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV), and India’s largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger, named DCI Dredge Godavari.

According to CSL, the simultaneous launches reflect India’s engineering excellence, indigenous design capabilities, and commitment to sustainable maritime growth under the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

The ASW Shallow Water Craft — the sixth in an eight-vessel series contracted in April 2019 — is a 78-metre-long, 896-tonne ship capable of reaching speeds up to 25 knots. It is fitted with state-of-the-art underwater sensors, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and mine-laying systems. Designed for coastal defence, the vessel can undertake low-intensity maritime missions, coordinate ASW operations with aircraft, and support search and rescue tasks. It will replace the Indian Navy’s ageing Abhay-class corvettes, significantly enhancing near-shore anti-submarine capabilities through advanced automation and extended endurance.

The second vessel, the Hybrid Electric Methanol-Ready CSOV (Hull No. BY 151), marks CSL’s entry into the offshore renewable energy market. Measuring 93 metres in length and 19.6 metres in breadth, the vessel is equipped with hybrid-electric propulsion, methanol-compatible engines, and large lithium-ion battery systems. It also features a motion-compensated gangway for safe crew transfers during offshore wind turbine installation and maintenance. Designed as a “floating hotel,” the CSOV will offer world-class living conditions and low-noise environments for offshore technicians working at sea.

The third vessel, DCI Dredge Godavari, is being built for the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in partnership with Royal IHC, Netherlands. Once completed, it will be India’s largest and most advanced dredger. The 127-metre-long, 12,000-cubic-metre Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger is capable of dredging up to 36 metres in depth, significantly enhancing India’s port deepening and land reclamation capacity.

“This project reflects the true spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, enabling the transfer of world-class dredging technology to Indian shores and bolstering the nation’s port-led growth ambitions,” CSL said in a statement.

With this triple launch, Cochin Shipyard reinforces its position as a leader in defence shipbuilding, sustainable vessel design, and advanced maritime engineering, further consolidating India’s stature as a rising force in the global shipbuilding industry.