India’s L&T Inks Master Ship Repair Agreement With The US Navy

On Tuesday, Larsen & Toubro declared that the firm and the US Navy have reportedly signed the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement to strengthen the nations’ collaboration in the defence sector.

The company stated that L&T’s Shipyard in Kattupalli, based close to Chennai, a significant node in the Southern Defence Corridor, has been carrying out voyage repairs of Military Sealift Command ships. Following an elaborate assessment conducted by the Military Sealift Command and US Navy, the shipyard qualified for the Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA). This is equal to carrying out warship refits, for which the shipyard has been authorized by the Coast Guard and India’s Navy, it mentioned.

The MSRA is one more significant milestone in the ever-expanding US-India collaboration. The historic deal is a direct outcome of the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue (2022). It demonstrates the US commitment to regularly making the best use of repair facilities at the L&T shipyard located in Kattupalli. The deal will strengthen the two nations’ strategic collaboration and pave the way for a free and open Indo-Pacific, per Judith Ravin, the US Consul General in Chennai.

This deal marks yet another crucial step in the evolving relationship between the oldest and the biggest democracies of the world, strengthening their collaboration in the defence domain, per the statement. The agreement marks a global recognition of unparalleled capabilities and facilities for ship repairs and refits.

L&T will dedicate its innovation, Shipbuilding 4.0 techniques, and dynamism to satisfy the quality and delivery requirements of the US side, per A T Ramchandani, the Executive VP and head of L&T Defence, stated. The USNS Salvor vessel was received at the Kattupalli Shipyard for essential voyage repairs. This is the third US vessel coming to the shipyard for voyage repairs.

Previously, it added that voyage repairs of the Marine Sealift Command (abbreviated MSC) Fleet Support Ships — USNS Matthew Perry and USNS Charles Drew — were undertaken and completed timely by the firm. The statement highlighted that L&T’s Shipyard in Kattupalli is among the most advanced shipbuilding and vessel repair facilities in this part of the world.

Reference: Business Line, Force India Net

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Source: Maritime Shipping News