Mangaluru: Mangaluru’s historic links to shipbuilding gained fresh momentum with a made-in-Mangaluru ship for a Dutch client recently handed over.The ship, a small bulk carrier called the Frisian Future, 113.18 metres in length and deadweight tonnage of 8,500, has a less-than-five-metre draft that is ideal for short routes. Stakeholders expressed confidence that this is one of several to come from the coastal city since shipyards picked up pace from 2023, after a prolonged lull following the 2008 financial crisis, particularly between 2014 and 2023.“The lull in shipbuilding was witnessed particularly between 2014 and 2023. People lost jobs and there was a freeze on salaries. Many highly skilled workers migrated to other fields,” explained Pavithran Alokkan, founder and CEO, Tritonex Marine Solutions. Speaking to TOI, Alokkan added: “Now, people have slowly started coming back. However, 2014-level salaries remain.” While China, South Korea and Japan are the biggest players, catering to a majority of the world’s ship orders, India accounts for no more than 0.1% of the global shipbuilding order book. The other three countries build vessels with highly sophisticated technology. Japan, for instance, works on LPG, LNG and ammonia-charged carriers, which are 10 times the cost of building a small bulk carrier like the one built in Mangaluru. These three countries also export many key components for shipbuilding in India, Alokkan said. “While we want to improve our global share to 5%, with our skilled labour force giving us an advantage, a country like China has the edge of govt-backed insurance at their shipyards,” he said. “Yet, at present, these countries have their order books full and are not taking additional orders, which is where we step in,” Alokkan further said, explaining India’s emerging role. Mangaluru MP Brijesh Chowta, in an X post, recounted how “long before modern shipyards, the rivers and coasts of Tulunadu built vessels that sailed across the Arabian Sea”. Over time, that legacy faded into obscurity, he added. “Today, with the revival of shipbuilding in Mangalore, that maritime relationship is being re-established,” he further said, lauding the delivery of the first vessel by Chowgule Shipyard — the Frisian Future.
