Mitsubishi, L&T to sign shipbuilding technology agreement

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to sign a technological and licensing agreement with Larsen & Toubro's (L&T)shipbuilding unit for providing technological support for the construction of commercial vessels  for emerging markets.

Under the technical pact to be signed tomorrow, Mitsubishi will provide licensing and technology support, including training of L&T engineers. Tokyo-based Mitsubishi will initially provide support for a period of three years, which can be extended.

Mitsubishi's support to L&T will consist of providing design drawings of vessels built by Mitsubishi and a broad range of training, including design, material procurement, ship construction and quality control.

Support activities will include consultation relating to potential expansion of L&T's shipbuilding facilities in the future and to overseas procurement of shipbuilding materials, as well as support for L&T's marketing and research.

Mitsubishi will receive payment from L&T according to the actual support it provides and the vessels built under the technical collaboration will branded as vessels built by L&T.

Based on the agreement, starting in spring of 2012, Mitsubishi will begin training of L&T engineers at the company's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works and the Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture. MHI will send experts skilled in design, ship construction and quality control from its shipyards to India for training of L&T employees.