A.P. Moller – Maersk plans to drydock its Singapore-flagged container vessel Maersk Chattogram at Larsen & Toubro’s Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai in October 2026. The vessel is expected to arrive on 20 October, subject to operational and weather conditions. This will be Maersk’s first planned drydocking in India.
Drydocking and ship surveys
Drydocking is the process of taking a vessel out of the water so its underwater hull and other components can be inspected, maintained or repaired. The planned work on Maersk Chattogram includes a scheduled special survey, maintenance and overhaul of the hull, structure, machinery, equipment and propulsion systems. A special survey is a detailed inspection carried out under a vessel’s applicable technical and classification requirements. L&T will use its Shiplift system at Kattupalli for the vessel’s lift-out. A shiplift uses a platform to raise or lower vessels between the water and a repair area. The system is described as India’s largest.
India–Maersk maritime cooperation
The drydocking is the first operational milestone under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Maersk and Larsen & Toubro during India Maritime Week 2025. The MoU provides a framework for cooperation in shipbuilding, ship repair and knowledge exchange on global standards and capacity building. Maersk has also signed an MoU with Cochin Shipyard Limited in February 2025. The company is exploring partnerships with other Indian entities in ship repair, maintenance and shipbuilding.
Ship repair infrastructure and cooperation
Kattupalli Shipyard is an L&T facility near Chennai, and its Shiplift system will be used to transfer Maersk Chattogram out of the water for the scheduled work. Maersk’s planned maintenance covers the vessel’s hull and onboard systems, while the MoU framework also addresses shipbuilding and technical knowledge exchange. Dinesh Kumar Balraj, Head of Fleet Operations East at Maersk, described the drydocking as a step in activating the company’s collaboration with L&T.
Important Facts for Exams
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- Drydocking allows access to a vessel’s underwater hull for inspection and repair.
- A shiplift raises or lowers vessels on a platform between water and a repair area.
- India Maritime Week 2025 was the setting for the Maersk–L&T MoU.
- Cochin Shipyard Limited is another Indian shipyard with which Maersk signed an MoU in February 2025.
The Maersk Chattogram is Singapore-flagged, and its planned arrival at Kattupalli is 20 October 2026. The scheduled work includes a special survey and overhaul of the vessel’s propulsion systems.
