- The first repair is under the five-year Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) between the US Navy and L&T.
- The development also aims to advance India’s indigenous production and logistics goals.
- The MSRA showcases the commitment to cooperation and contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Under the five-year Master Ship Repair agreement between the US Navy and Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) shipyard, the arrival of the US Navy Ship marks the first instance of conducting a mid-voyage repair, as published in Hindustan Times.
Strengthening US-India Maritime Partnership
On July 9, a US Military Sealift Command’s rescue and salvage ship, USNS Salvor, arrived at Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) shipyard near Chennai for mid-voyage repair. This marks the first repair under the five-year Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) between the US Navy and L&T. The development aims to bolster the Indo-US strategic partnership and maritime security. The agreement, a result of the 2022 US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, signifies the commitment to enhance cooperation in utilizing repair facilities at the L&T Shipyard and contributes to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The celebratory event attended by the US Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin, highlighted the significance of this milestone in the growing US-India partnership.
Indo-US Agreement Fast-Tracks US Naval Vessel Repairs
The Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) between the US Navy and Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) allows for pre-approved shipyards to conduct repairs on US Naval vessels after a rigorous vetting process. US Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin, emphasized that the MSRA will streamline US government contracting processes for repair work and support India’s indigenous production and logistics goals. With MSRA certification, L&T Kattupalli shipyard gains the opportunity to bid on US Navy and Military Sealift Command ship repair contracts in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
USNS Salvor’s arrival at L&T shipyard marks the first mid-voyage repair conducted under the MSRA agreement, which was initiated after Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed their intent to conduct maintenance in India during the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in 2022. US Embassy New Delhi’s Office of Defense Cooperation chief, Captain Michael L. Farmer, commended L&T on their accomplishment in finalizing the agreement and undertaking mid-voyage repair activities for US Naval vessels. This agreement is considered a significant milestone in advancing the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
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Source: Hindustan Times
