Mumbai, India – Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), India's premier warship builder, is undertaking a major expansion project with the construction of the nation's largest floating dry dock at Nhava Island near Mumbai.
This ambitious endeavor, part of a Rs 5,000 crore investment plan, is set to bolster MDL's capacity to handle larger shipbuilding projects and significantly increase its output.
The contract for the floating dry dock, valued at Rs 475 crore, was awarded to Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd. The massive structure, measuring 180 meters in length, 44 meters in width, and 19.5 meters in height, is being built in six separate blocks at Shoft Shipyard's Bharuch facility in Gujarat.
Due to its immense size, the dry dock cannot be constructed as a single unit. These blocks will be transported to MDL's Nhava jetty for final assembly and launch, with the first four blocks slated to arrive by March.
MDL's total investment in the 40-acre Nhava facility is estimated to exceed Rs 1,000 crore, encompassing the development of the jetty, dredging operations, and other associated works. The new facility is projected to be operational by the end of the year.
This state-of-the-art floating dry dock will be capable of accommodating vessels weighing up to 12,800 tons, enabling MDL to construct and repair larger vessels such as next-generation destroyers and commercial ships. The facility is designed to handle the simultaneous construction of up to eight ships, significantly augmenting MDL's production capacity.
In addition to the floating dry dock, MDL is also developing a dedicated shipbuilding and ship repair facility on a 15-acre plot adjacent to its existing Mumbai yard. This expansion will further enhance MDL's capabilities to undertake a wider range of projects, including both defence and commercial vessels.
"With this additional capital expenditure, our capacity will practically double," said Sanjeev Singhal, Chairman and Managing Director of MDL. "Not only will we be able to handle a larger number of vessels, but also significantly larger vessels in terms of size."
This expansion aligns with MDL's strategic objective to secure export orders, expand its commercial shipbuilding portfolio, and venture into the repair of large vessels, areas where it currently faces capacity constraints. The new facilities will provide MDL with the necessary infrastructure to capitalize on these emerging opportunities and solidify its position as a leading shipbuilder in the region.
