The government of India owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) has signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the US government, represented by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka on 7 September 2023. MDL becomes the second Indian company after Larsen and Toubro to sign such an agreement with the U S Navy .

The MDL already undertakes repairs of the Indian Navy and Coast guard ships.

In the month of July 2023 Larsen and Toubro had signed the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the US Navy . The US Navy ships will be repaired at the Kattupalli Shipyard, near Chennai.

What is a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA)

The MSRA is a legally non-binding arrangement between the US Navy and private shipbuilding contractors. The approved shipyards of the private contractor will repair US naval vessels. The MSRA involves a rigorous vetting process and companies of countries which have close defence ties with the US are only selected for MRSA.

Under the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) the India shipyard will provide repairs and refit service to facilities to the US Navy warship passing through the region .

Significance of the agreement

The signing of agreement signifies the growing closeness between India and the United States especially in the defence field.

During the 2+2 dialogue held between India and the United States in April 2022, India had proposed to the U.S to allow the American Navy to use the service and expertise of the Indian shipyards which are capable of repair and maintenance of ships .

In 2+2 dialogue foreign ministers and defence ministers of both the countries participate .

It is a signal to China about the closeness of Indian and American strategic cooperation in the region .

It will give a boost to the Indian Shipyard industry . Its capability to undertake complex ship repair facilities will receive global recognition and will facilitate more such global order in future.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)

It was set up as a private limited company in 1934. It was nationalised in 1960 and was taken over by the government of India . The majority stake in the company is that of the Government of India .

It is a mini-ratna -I company . MDL has built a total 801 vessels including 27 warships, from advanced destroyers to missile boats and 7 submarines.

It is the only shipyard in the country to have built destroyers and conventional submarines for the Indian Navy.

Chairman and Managing Director : Sanjeev Singhal

Headquarters: Mumbai