Mumbai : In a major step toward strengthening India’s maritime workforce, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian arm of the global corrosion authority Association for Materials Protection and Performance to establish the country’s first dedicated Marine Blasting & Painting Skill Center.
The agreement was signed with the NACE International India Section (NIIS), which represents AMPP in India.
Building a Globally Certified Marine Workforce
The initiative will roll out as a five-year strategic program designed to create a highly skilled and globally competitive workforce specializing in marine surface preparation and protective coatings—critical areas in shipbuilding and maintenance.
The skill center will offer internationally recognized NACE/AMPP certifications, integrated with India’s national skilling ecosystem through the National Skill Development Corporation under the Skill India mission.
This structured approach is expected to formalize career pathways for marine coatings professionals, a niche yet essential segment that ensures vessel durability, safety, and lifecycle efficiency.
Strengthening India’s Maritime Capabilities
Marine blasting and painting play a crucial role in protecting ships from corrosion, directly impacting operational safety and long-term maintenance costs. By introducing standardized, globally benchmarked training, MDL aims to bridge the skill gap in this specialized domain and enhance the quality of India’s shipbuilding workforce.
The initiative aligns with India’s broader push to modernize its maritime infrastructure and expand domestic shipbuilding capabilities, particularly as demand grows for both defense and commercial vessels.
MoU Signing Ceremony and Leadership Presence
The MoU signing ceremony took place at the Sagarika Auditorium in Mumbai, attended by senior industry leaders and key stakeholders. Notable attendees included:
- Vasudev Puranik, Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), MDL
- Dipen Jhaveri, Chairman, AMPP India Chapter
- N. Manohar Rao, Trustee, NIIS
- Arun Kumar Chand, Executive Director – HR, MDL
Their presence underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration in building a future-ready maritime workforce.
Launch of Training Book for Industry Professionals
The event also marked the release of a specialized Training Book for Blasters & Painters, laying the foundation for a standardized training curriculum. This resource is expected to support both new entrants and experienced professionals in upgrading their skills to meet international standards.
Strategic Outlook
With this partnership, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is positioning itself not just as a shipbuilder, but as a key contributor to workforce development in the maritime sector. By combining global certification standards with national skill development initiatives, the program is set to enhance employability, improve quality benchmarks, and support India’s ambitions of becoming a global maritime hub.
