L&T Kattupalli Shipyard gains approval for military sealift command repairs

Larsen and Toubro (L&T) announced that its Kattupalli Shipyard, a significant point in the Southern Defence Corridor, is carrying out voyage repairs of Military Sealift Command vessels.

Following comprehensive evaluation by the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command, the Shipyard has been granted the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA), paralleling the qualifications for conducting warship refits which it already holds from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

The agreement further reinforces the strategic partnership in the defence sector between India and the United States, the world’s largest and oldest democracies respectively. The L&T Kattupalli Shipyard recently received USNS Salvor for voyage repairs.

The reception was attended by the US Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin, Executive Vice President and Head of L&T Defence Business, A.T. Ramchandani, and other senior officials from the US Embassy and L&T. This is the third U.S. ship arriving at the L&T Shipyard for voyage repairs, after the successful completion of repair works on Marine Sealift Command (MSC) Fleet Support Ships, USNS Charles Drew and USNS Matthew Perry.

Judith Ravin — US Consul General in Chennai said: “This MSRA is yet another milestone in our ever-expanding U.S.-India partnership. This historic agreement is a direct outcome of the 2022 U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and demonstrates U.S. commitment to utilize repair facilities on a regular basis at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli. This agreement will serve to strengthen our two nations’ strategic partnership and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Equipped with a heavy ship-lift, several dry berths, and wet berths, L&T’s Kattupalli Shipyard is among the most advanced shipbuilding and ship repair facilities in the region. Besides handling ship repair tasks and refits on US Navy and Military Sealift Command vessels, the L&T global network of offices & facilities will contribute to logistics support in supply chain management.

AT Ramchandani — L&T Defence Executive Vice President & Head said: “This agreement marks a global recognition of our unmatched capabilities and facilities to undertake quality ship repairs and refits. We are happy to be of service to the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command. L&T will dedicate all its dynamism, innovation, and Shipbuilding 4.0 techniques to meet the quality and delivery requirements of the US side.”