New Delhi and Washington are working towards a new Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) that will allow US warships to access repair services at Indian ports. This move is part of their efforts to establish India as a significant hub for maintenance and repair of US Navy vessels in the Indo-Pacific region. Last year, the US Navy signed MSRA deals with Larsen and Toubro Ltd and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, allowing the world’s most powerful navy access to Indian ports, including Cochin and Chennai’s Kattupalli. Negotiations are ongoing for an MSRA agreement with Goa Shipyard Ltd. According to Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt, MSRA qualifies shipyards to compete for ship repair projects for the US Navy. The agreements cover aspects such as security, payments, and liabilities and are reviewed every five years or as needed. Undertaking repairs of these ships serves the commercial interests of Indian shipbuilders and has the potential to lead to more opportunities. The addition of Kolkata Port to this growing network will deepen the India-US defense relationship, potentially attracting increased interest from American allies like the UK. As previously stated in a joint statement during PM Modi’s state visit to the US, both countries acknowledge India’s emergence as a maintenance and repair hub for forward-deployed US Navy assets. This will expedite the contracting process for mid-voyage and emergent repairs. The two countries are also collaborating to create logistics, repair, and maintenance infrastructure for aircraft and vessels in India, as outlined in the Defense Industrial Roadmap. These agreements demonstrate the strengthening defense ties between New Delhi and Washington, fostered through joint military exercises, foundational defense agreements, and defense industry cooperation plans, such as the co-production of the F-414 jet engine by HAL and General Electric in India.
US and India Eye New Ship Repair Agreement for Indo-Pacific
