There is no reciprocity agreement existing or being negotiated to allow Indian ship repairs in American yards. However, a Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) was signed between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard Kattupalli and the United States on April 4, 2023 for en route repairs of US Navy vessels. MSRA with M/s Mazagon Docks Limited and M/s Goa Shipyard Limited is at an advanced stage. MSRA qualifies a shipyard to compete for ship repair projects for the US Navy. The MSRA includes provisions on security, payments, liability, etc. The agreement is reviewed every five years or as needed.
Undertaking repairs of these vessels serves the commercial interest of Indian shipbuilders and will potentially lead to more such opportunities. A US Navy vessel must be berthed in an Indian Naval Shipyard for the duration of her repair.
This information was given today by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Cosme Francisco Caitano Sardinha in Lok Sabha.
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ABB/Savvy/Nirmit
