Cochin Shipyard to develop dry dock in Chennai.

With the private sector not participating in the Rs. 250-crore tender for a dry dock and ship repair facility at the Chennai port, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) is likely to be roped in for the project, according to reliable sources.

CSL, a public sector enterprise, has shown interest in developing the dry dock and ship repair facility at the Chennai port. There was no response from the private sector to participle in the tender called by the Chennai Port Trust towards the end of last year.

Even in the pre-bid meeting, only CSL and one private player, Tebma Shipyards participated, said the ChPT source who did not want to be named.

Even CSL did not submit a bid, but put in an application after the tender process ended. This could be treated as an 'Expression of Interest' for the project since it was PSU.

According to the source, N Muruganandam, Joint Secretary (Ports), Ministry of Shipping, suggested in a recent ChPT board meeting that CSL's application could be considered as EoI and the project awarded after mutual agreement on the terms and conditions of the bid, the source said.

There have been instances of government sector ports entering in to agreements with other PSUs on mutually agreed terms and conditions to develop facilities and port operations.

HBL