Drydocks World, Cochin Shipyard and CEMS sign MoU to boost India’s maritime skills base
The MoU will cultivate a skilled shipyard workforce in India (Source: DDW)
Drydocks World (DDW), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop an internationally competitive shipbuilding and repair workforce in India. The agreement, exchanged during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, aims to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for skilled maritime professionals.
The MoU was signed in the presence of India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, alongside senior representatives from all three organisations. Training programmes will be delivered through facilities operated by CSL, CEMS and Drydocks World, combining theoretical study with practical instruction by experts from India and the UAE.
Capt Rado Antolovic, chief executive of DDW, said the partnership was designed to build a sustainable talent pipeline for global shipbuilding. “This collaboration represents a powerful step towards strengthening the maritime talent pipeline from India,” he said. Cochin Shipyard chairman Madhu S Nair added that the initiative would “create a talent pool that can support the growing demands of shipbuilding and repair, both domestically and internationally”.
The partnership supports India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which seeks to expand innovation, sustainability and skill development across the sector.
