Kochi Firm MKEL Marine Unveils Five Indigenous Watercraft Lines, Targets Global Markets
Kochi-based watercraft specialist MKEL Marine has launched five lines of indigenously designed and manufactured watercraft as it seeks to reduce India’s dependence on imported high-end boats and establish Kerala as a hub for high-performance boating and composite engineering. The range was unveiled at the company’s facility in Njarakkal by circumnavigator Commander Abhilash Tomy, KC, NM (Retd), the first Indian to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
The new portfolio covers touring and expedition kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and surfboards, powerboats, work boats and sailing yachts. The MKEL Touring & Expedition Kayaks are ultra-light composite craft designed for touring, expedition paddling, eco-tourism and competitive watersports. Its rigid composite Stand-Up Paddle Boards and Surfboards are aimed at coastal and backwater conditions, offering an indigenous alternative to imported inflatables. The MKEL Velor Powerboat Series, built using impact-resistant marine composites, is designed for sports fishing, offshore day cruising, coastal patrol and surveillance, diving, charter operations, and resort and luxury transfers.
Commander Abhilash Tomy inaugurated MKEL Marine’s new range of watercraft in the presence of MKEL Marine Founder and CEO Jose Babu Maliakel.
The company’s MKEL Work Boats are positioned for crew transfers, diving support, passenger transport, harbour and backwater operations, and marine survey and inspection activities. Its sailing yacht portfolio includes the ORC 33, a 9.9-metre performance racing sailboat, and the Explorer 39, a 12-metre blue-water cruising yacht. The sailing yachts are being developed under an international design partnership, with MKEL handling plug and mould construction and classification documentation in-house.
The launch is part of MKEL Marine’s broader push into indigenous maritime manufacturing, with the company targeting eco-tourism, leisure boating, offshore support operations and competitive watersports. Founder-CEO and naval architect Jose Babu Maliakel said the company aims to combine globally benchmarked composite technology with indigenous naval design and develop Kerala into a major Asian centre for high-performance watercraft manufacturing and design.
As part of its international expansion, MKEL Marine has signed a non-exclusive design licensing agreement with Perth-based B&G Yacht Design, founded by yacht designer Roberto Barros. Under the agreement, the Kochi facility will manufacture and sell the ORC 33 and Explorer 39 designs worldwide.
MKEL has invested Rs 2.5 crore in the business so far and plans to scale its total investment to Rs 10 crore by 2027. The planned capital expenditure will fund production moulds for its sailing yacht, powerboat and work boat lines, a larger waterside manufacturing facility, and the beginning of work on a marina and experience centre.
The company also plans a significant expansion of its workforce. Its combined team of production engineers, design engineers and composite manufacturing technicians is expected to increase to 35 employees by the end of 2026, 60 by the end of 2027 and 100 by the end of 2028.
MKEL Marine is targeting Europe, the Middle East, South-East Asia and the Maldives for exports. Through the new product lines, expanded manufacturing capacity and international design partnership, the company aims to strengthen Kerala’s position in advanced composite manufacturing while building an export-oriented marine lifestyle and watercraft business.
Pic Courtesy: google/images are subject to copyright
