A milestone in India’s journey towards realizing the vision of a sustainable Blue Economy: Union Minister

Marking a major advancement in India’s marine fisheries infrastructure development, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian on Wednesday commissioned a newly constructed 250-ton capacity slipway cradle in Kochi. The cradle transfer carriage will support docking and maintenance capabilities for a diverse range of vessels from fishermen boats to research vessels.

Built by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) at a cost of ₹1.78 crore, the new cradle is a heavy-duty steel structural platform designed for the safe hauling and launching of vessels up to 250 tons displacement. With this capacity, it is the largest government owned vessel cradle facility ever established in the country.

Inaugurating the facility, the Union Minister said the cradle represents “a milestone in India’s journey towards realizing the vision of a sustainable Blue Economy”. “The facility will benefit fishers, multiple government agencies and other stakeholders in the marine sector”, he said adding that the cradle will support uninterrupted marine research operations, enabling continuous surveys, stock assessments, and ecosystem monitoring.

The Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aimed at enhancing the livelihood and living standards of fishermen. He said that transponders are being installed on fishing vessels in collaboration with ISRO to ensure safety at sea and real-time communication. The system will also integrate potential fishing zone forecasts, enabling fishermen to access reliable information on fish-rich areas directly through these transponders.

On the significance of the facility, FSI Director General Dr Sreenath K R said: “The slipway cradle is a critical enabler for the deep-sea fleet modernization envisioned under the PMMSY. As we encourage fishers to invest in modern, technologically advanced vessels, providing them with world-class maintenance infrastructure is paramount. This facility directly supports the objectives of PMMSY by ensuring these new assets are kept in prime operational condition, enhancing their lifespan and guaranteeing the safety of our fishers at sea”.

Its design ensures balanced support for vessel hulls during movement along the slipway, operating in conjunction with an electric winch system for controlled hauling from water to shore. The new cradle allows six vessels to be docked simultaneously for repair and maintenance across different berths.

Situated at the heart of India’s maritime activities, the FSI slipway complex in Kochi plays a pivotal role in maintaining a diverse array of vessels beyond traditional fishing boats, including those used for research and enforcement by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Indian Coast Guard, Customs and Lakshadweep Fisheries Department. It can also cater to Kochi Water Metro vessels, tourism crafts, inland water transport vessels and private deep-sea operators.

CIFT Director Dr George Ninan, Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General Ashish Mehrotra, FSI Zonal Director Dr Sijo P Varghese and Director Engineering Dharmvir Singh spoke on the occasion.