Fraught with challenges: Ship salvaging industry rides on rough waters

The rescue of the cargo ship that choked the busy Suez Canal has put the spotlight on a sector

Cochin Shipyard, which has one of the largest dock capacities in the country, started work on building a new dry dock in 2018.

This was to enhance existing capacity to build and repair large vessels, including aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy. But a few months down the line, the company encountered a problem.
 

A dock flap gate, which had sunk years back at the northern side of the quay, was hindering work. And the large construction major, which had been engaged to build that dry dock, couldn’t proceed till the sunk gate was removed.
 

It was no easy