The Indian government owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is to construct multi-purpose vessels for the offshore industry as well as for the Indian Navy. The programme will include warships under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious 'Make in India' campaign, which aims to turn the country into a manufacturing powerhouse.

"Cochin Shipyard is to start substantial expansion of its capacity, so that we can play a lead role in shipbuilding in the country," said CSL's chairman and managing director Cmde. K Subramaniam (Retd.).

"We have already been allotted some land by the Cochin Port Trust for local expansion. The Shipping Ministry has also asked us to set up shipbuilding and repair facilities in places like Kandla and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where the government has land available for the purpose."

The state-run facility will face little competition in India for the construction of offshore support vessels, as main private sector rivals ABG Shipyard and Bharati Shipyard have been facing serious financial difficulties, with the latter facing danger of being wound up.