What Colombo Dockyard does

Colombo Dockyard PLC (Colombo Stock Exchange: DOCK.N0000) is Sri Lanka's largest shipbuilding and ship repair facility, founded in 1974 and headquartered at the Port of Colombo. The company operates four graving dry docks with a maximum capacity of 125,000 DWT, extensive repair berth facilities, and the wholly-owned heavy engineering subsidiary Dockyard General Engineering Services (DGES). Its core services fall into four lines: ship repair (dry dock and afloat repairs for vessels up to 125,000 DWT), shipbuilding (specialized vessels including cable laying ships, hybrid eco bulk carriers, offshore support vessels, and naval craft), offshore engineering (drilling unit and OSV repair/retrofit), and heavy engineering (underwater structures, port infrastructure, fuel and LPG storage, cement silos). The Rapid Response Afloat Repair Service (RRARS), established in 2019, provides mobile repair capability across Colombo, Trincomalee, Hambantota, and Galle.

The company serves a mix of international commercial shipping operators, government/naval clients, and niche industrial customers. Repeat enterprise customers include Misje EcoBulk AS (Norway, 10 hybrid bulk carriers), Orange Marine (France, cable laying vessels), Eastern Pacific Shipping (Singapore), Foresight Group (UAE), Maldives State Shipping, the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Dredging Corporation of India. Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-driven contracts — predominantly multi-year newbuild programs and one-off repair/refit jobs — with no public pricing tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct client negotiation, supplemented by participation in major maritime exhibitions (Posidonia, Nor-shipping, SMM, APM, INMEX-SMM) and bilateral business forums.

Since 1993, Colombo Dockyard has operated in joint collaboration with Japan's Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd, which has influenced its Japanese-style quality culture. In April 2026, India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a defence public sector undertaking, acquired a 51% controlling stake for approximately USD 26.8 million (Rs 452 crore), making it India's first international shipyard acquisition and bringing CDPLC into India's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 framework. The transaction also resulted in board reconstitution under MDL nominee Chairman Capt. Jagmohan (Retd), while Managing Director & CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura and the senior management team were retained.

Name

Colombo Dockyard

Legal name

Colombo Dockyard PLC

Website

https://cdl.lk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Colombo Dockyard PLC is Sri Lanka's largest shipyard, providing ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy engineering, and offshore engineering services from a 125,000 DWT dry dock facility in Colombo to international commercial, naval, and government clients across Europe, South Asia, and East Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB), Dry Docks & Floating Docks (Graving, Floating, Syncrolift) (IMAJALAA), Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ), Dry Docking & Dockyard Operations (Graving/Floating Docks, Docking Services) (TLAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Ship repair services
• Shipbuilding construction
• Heavy engineering
• Offshore engineering
• Afloat repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ship Repair Services: Dry dock and afloat repairs for vessels up to 125,000 DWT, including routine dry docking, major layup repairs, collision damages, conversions, retrofits, and machinery/piping/electrical work. Serves over 200 vessels annually.
2. Shipbuilding: Construction of specialized vessels including cable laying ships, eco bulk carriers, offshore support vessels, passenger vessels, and naval vessels. Major projects include Misje EcoBulk series (Norway), Orange Marine vessels (France), and cable vessels for Japan.
3. Heavy Engineering: Design, fabrication, and installation of complex underwater and heavy steel structures including underwater restaurants, port infrastructure, fuel storage systems, cement silos, and power station installation.
4. Offshore Engineering: Repair and retrofit services for mobile offshore drilling units, floating docks, ocean research vessels, and offshore support vessels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Colombo Dockyard PLC operates Sri Lanka's pioneer shipbuilding and ship repair facility, delivering dry dock and afloat repairs for vessels up to 125,000 DWT across four graving dry docks, newbuild construction of specialized vessels (cable laying ships, hybrid eco bulk carriers, offshore support vessels, naval vessels), offshore engineering and conversions, and heavy engineering of complex underwater and steel structures. The company services over 200 vessels annually for international commercial shipping, naval, and industrial clients.

Product overview

Colombo Dockyard PLC operates as Sri Lanka's leading shipbuilding, ship repair, and heavy engineering facility. The company offers a comprehensive suite of maritime services centered on four core operations: Ship Repairs (dry dock and afloat repairs up to 125,000 DWT across four graving dry docks), Shipbuilding (constructing vessels for global clients including eco bulk carriers, cable laying vessels, and offshore support vessels), Offshore Engineering and Conversions (repair services for drilling units and support vessels), and Heavy Engineering (underwater structures, port infrastructure, and industrial installations). Supporting these core offerings is the Rapid Response Afloat Repair Service (RRARS) providing mobile repair capabilities at Sri Lankan ports. The company operates in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd of Japan and, since 2026, maintains a majority stake by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited of India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Repairs
• Shipbuilding
• Offshore Engineering and Conversions
• Heavy Engineering
• Rapid Response Afloat Repair Services (RRARS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ vessels serviced annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026MoU signed April 7, 2026 for comprehensive dry docking, repair, and upgradation facilities for DCIL's fleet of dredgers. Colombo Dockyard will support planned and emergent repair, maintenance, and enhancement requirements. The partnership is facilitated following MDL's acquisition of 51% stake and is expected to enhance fleet availability and turnaround efficiency.
• Orange Marine (France)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2025Largest shipbuilding contract in company history - construction of two Cable Laying and Repair Vessels. Following successful delivery of Sophie Germain in 2023 and keel laying of first vessel in April 2026. The vessels are designed by VARD Design AS Norway, built to Bureau Veritas standards, and meet French Flag Authority requirements.
• Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024Agreement to set up fully-fledged engineering workshop at HIPG facility. The workshop will extend service footprint to southernmost tip of Sri Lanka, offering afloat repair services to vessels calling at Hambantota. HIPG is a deep draft port with over 3.5 km of berths capable of handling vessels up to VLCC.
• Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts (Maldives)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Second underwater restaurant structure project for the Maldives resort chain. Completed 440T steel structure within 7 months including design, fabricated at Colombo Dockyard premises and towed to Maldives. First underwater restaurant was delivered in 2018 to Uthuru Maafaru Islands.
• Misje EcoBulk AS (Norway)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Contract to build 10 x 5000 DWT Hybrid Eco Bulk Carriers, conceptualized by Wartsila Ship Design Norway with DNV classification. Project completed March 2026 despite pandemic, Sri Lanka's economic crisis, and supply chain disruptions. Final vessel Misje Kandy delivered March 26, 2026.
• Onomichi Dockyard Company Limited (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 1993Joint collaboration since 1993, now celebrating over 31 years of partnership. The collaboration has influenced work culture and quality standards, with Onomichi holding a significant ownership stake. Japanese expertise and quality-driven service standards have been instrumental in Colombo Dockyard's success in serving European and global clients.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Damen Shipyards: Netherlands-headquartered global shipbuilding group with 35+ yards worldwide producing standardized workboats, naval vessels, and offshore platforms. Comparable in commercial and naval vessel newbuild, with significantly broader product portfolio and geographic reach than Colombo Dockyard.

Direct peers

• Keppel Shipyard: Singapore shipyard division of Keppel, offering ship repair, conversion, and offshore engineering services. Directly comparable in ship repair scale and offshore engineering, with overlapping customer base among international ship owners operating in Asia.
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE): Indian public sector shipyard focused on naval and commercial vessels including frigates, patrol vessels, and commercial cargo ships. Comparable in naval and patrol vessel construction niche and Indian defence shipbuilding access through MDL ownership chain.
• Onomichi Dockyard: Japanese shipyard and 31-year strategic partner of Colombo Dockyard. Operates similar mid-size ship repair and shipbuilding yards in Japan with comparable vessel class capabilities and quality standards. Long-standing collaboration makes operational and capability comparisons direct.
• Cochin Shipyard Limited: India's largest public sector shipyard offering shipbuilding, ship repair, and offshore engineering. Most directly comparable peer given similar service mix (ship repair, newbuild, offshore), Indian regulatory environment, and overlapping customer base including Indian Navy and commercial shipping operators.
• Sembcorp Marine: Singapore-based shipyard with global rig-building, ship repair, and offshore engineering capabilities. Comparable in service mix (ship repair, offshore conversions, complex newbuilds) and in competing for similar international commercial and offshore customers in the Indian Ocean region.
• Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding: Indian conglomerate's shipbuilding division operating greenfield shipyard in Tamil Nadu. Comparable in newbuild commercial and naval vessel construction, competing for similar Indian and international shipbuilding contracts, including platforms and offshore structures.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL): Parent company after 2026 acquisition of 51% stake. India's leading defence shipbuilder with strong naval and submarine construction track record. Directly comparable in shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities, with substantial Indian defence orderbook access that flows through to Colombo Dockyard.
• Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (HCSL): Indian joint venture between Cochin Shipyard and Hooghly Dock, operating shipbuilding and repair facilities in Kolkata. Comparable in commercial shipbuilding and ship repair services for the Indian Ocean regional fleet, including small-to-medium commercial and naval vessels.

Emerging players

• VARD: Norwegian-based offshore and specialized vessel designer/builder and existing design partner of Colombo Dockyard for cable laying vessels. Comparable in specialized vessel design and construction for offshore and subsea cable markets, though primarily design-focused with limited repair capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colombo Dockyard