IHC Merwede focusing on India

The Dutch shipbuilder, IHC Merwede, the market leader in the construction of specialised dredging equipment, is fast increasing its footprints in India.

Last year the company delivered seven dredgers to various Indian companies and this year it has already several newbuildings on order and is in the process of signing more.

Philip de Bats, Area Manager for India, IHC Merwede Dredging & Mining states, “The Indian market is very special for IHC Merwede and has been for many years but we want to offer additional support to our growing base of clients. We want to be near to the customer, where they have their operations. Being close allows us to deliver the services required at all levels. These improvements allow our clients to benefit from IHC Merwede?s unique life-cycle support service.”

According to the company?s spokesman, India is changing rapidly. Demand from customers for spare parts and new services have increased dramatically. Some of its Indian nationals working in IHC?s regional office in Dubai will be moved to the new branches in India, in order to ensure continuity.

De Bats points out that maintenance demands are slightly different in India at the moment. IHC Merwede aims to be involved with the vessel throughout its whole life-cycle, rather than merely repairing a vessel or supplying spares. IHC Merwede is not talking merely about functionality; they want to maintain the equipment in the same condition as it was originally during the time of delivery. The company?s Life-cycle support strategy offers a totally new vision.

The company’s ambitions for the Indian market include future plans to establish warehousing and storage facilities in the Mumbai region. De Bats hopes that these plans will come to fruition within the next six months.

In the long term the company is considering increasing its presence with the addition of more local branches and it is mulling over the possibility of establishing local production facility, possibly in conjunction with Cochin Shipyard.