Kolkata, May 23 (IANS): The central government has identified ship repairing facilities of seven ports for upgradation into modern units in collaboration with Cochin Shipyard, a top official said here.

"It has been decided at last week's meeting in Goa that seven ports, which have ship repair facilities that need to be upgraded, should enter into an understanding with Cochin Shipyard Ltd for developing them into a good ship repairing facility," Union Ministry of Shipping's Joint Secretary (Sagarmala Wing) Rabindra Kumar Agarwal said here.

He said the respective ports and Cochin Shipyard would decide the modalities of development. 

Pandu in Assam, Mumbai, Goa, and Kandla are among the identified ports where redevelopment of repairing facilities would be done, Agarwal said on the sidelines of an event organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce. 

The aim is to have enough such repairing facilities across states, he explained, adding that if ships are taken to longer distances for repairing works, it entails additional costs. 

"These are existing facilities with the ports but their utilisation came down over the years. Since there is space available, it will be easier for us to develop them," he added.