This is part of attempts by New Delhi and Washington
to make India a major hub for maintenance and repair of US Navy ships in the
Indo-Pacific. The US navy signed MSRA deals with Larsen and Toubro as well
as Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Ltd last year.
Just last month, Cochin Shipyard Ltd also
signed a similar deal. These agreements
provide the world’s most powerful navy access to Indian ports, including Cochin
and Chennai’s Kattupalli. Talks are also on for an MSRA agreement with Goa
Shipyard Ltd.
“MSRA qualifies
a shipyard to compete for carrying out ship repair projects for US Navy. The
MSRA includes clauses on security, payments, liabilities etc. The agreement is
reviewed every five years, or as required. Undertaking repairs of these ships
serves the commercial interest of Indian shipbuilders and will potentially lead
to more such opportunities. An American Navy ship shall be berthed in an Indian
shipyard for the duration of its repair,” minister of state for defence Ajay
Bhatt told the Lok Sabha in 2023. The
addition of Kolkata Port to this growing network will deepen India’s defence
relationship with America. It could also potentially lead to increased
interest from American allies abroad, like the UK, in using India as a hub for
ship maintenance and repair. .
“President
Biden and Prime Minister Modi also welcomed India’s emergence as a hub for
maintenance and repair for forward deployed US Navy assets and the conclusion
of Master Ship Repair Agreements with Indian shipyards.
This will allow the US Navy to expedite the
contracting process for mid-voyage and emergent repair. As envisaged in
the Defence Industrial Roadmap, both countries agree to work together for the
creation of logistic, repair, and maintenance infrastructure for aircrafts and
vessels in India,” the two countries said in a joint statement in June, during
PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to America.
These agreements reflect the closer defence
relationship between New Delhi and Washington, which has developed rapidly in
the last two decades.