The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in a modest ceremony at the International Maritime Conference (INMARCO) in Kakinada, with Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram and K.V. Rao exchanging signatures and a photo that will be posted on their social media feeds.
Under the MoU, HSL will first conduct a detailed assessment of KSPL’s slipway, jetty, and supporting infrastructure to determine what upgrades are required before the shipyard can lay hulls there.
HSL, a Category‑I Miniratna entity founded in 1941, recently celebrated the launch of the 43,500‑tonne Fleet Support Ship Surya and the laying of a new vessel’s keel, demonstrating its capacity to handle large‑scale projects.
The partnership is slated to begin with the assessment in late October, after which HSL plans to build vessels up to 80,000 deadweight tonnes at the Kakinada site, creating jobs for around 1,000 local workers and boosting the region’s maritime economy.