India’s tryst with shipbuilding

When we remember the maritime dominance of the Chola kingdom and the amazing skills of traditional shipbuilders in Gujarat, it does seem strange that India is less than a footnote in the ranks of shipbuilding the world's countries.

- MICHAEL PINTO

It is estimated that India today has as many as 61 shipyards, but only about 8 of them are considered large enough to count.

Surprisingly enough, shipbuilding, as an industry, has always received stepmotherly treatment from the government. Surprising because India has a large labour force, and shipbuilding is known as a labour-intensive industry. The exception was Indira Gandhi, who realised this and established the public sector Cochin Shipyard in 1972 when South Korea, now a giant among world shipbuilders, was not even a twinkle in anyone's eye.

In fact, long before South Korea attained dominance in shipbuilding, it sent a delega tion to visit Cochin Shipyard and see what it could learn from it. Unkind rumours had it that when, many years later, the Indian government asked for a copy of that delegation's report, the Korean government showed a strange reluctance to part with it. When after much persuasion the report was given, it turned out that it stated that Cochin Shipyard was a good example of how not to establish a shipyard.