CSL also signed a second MoU with Guidance, Tamil Nadu’s nodal investment agency, to catalyse the development of shipbuilding clusters and strengthen regional maritime infrastructure.
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), India’s largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility, has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering to advance long-term collaboration in large vessel construction and maritime innovation.
The agreement was formalised during the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi: Transforming India’s Maritime Sector’ event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 20 in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The signing ceremony was attended by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State; Jung Changin, Head of Global Business Management Division, Hyundai; and Madhu S Nair, Chairman & Managing Director, CSL.
This partnership aims to integrate CSL’s domestic infrastructure and shipbuilding legacy with HD Korea’s advanced technology and global expertise, marking a pivotal step in strengthening India’s maritime manufacturing capabilities. Under the agreement, CSL’s newly commissioned 310-metre dry dock will be used to construct large vessels such as Suezmax tankers, container ships, and Capesize bulk carriers, with a capacity to deliver up to six ships annually.
To support this scale-up, CSL will invest approximately Rs 18.7 billion in a dedicated block fabrication facility (BFF) located in Kochi, spanning 80 acres. The facility will have an annual fabrication capacity of 120,000 metric tonnes (MT) and is expected to generate around 2,000 direct jobs, with indirect employment potentially five times higher across logistics, MSMEs, supply chains, and ancillary industries. The layout and technical details of the proposed facility were unveiled at the event.
The collaboration also includes joint execution of shipbuilding projects at CSL’s existing facilities during the transition phase, while exploring new business areas, greenfield shipyards, and skill development initiatives. By enhancing production efficiency and delivering next-generation vessels, the partnership aligns with national programmes such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, reinforcing India’s ambition to emerge as a global shipbuilding hub.
In a parallel development, CSL signed a second MoU with Guidance, the nodal agency of the Tamil Nadu government, to support the creation of shipbuilding clusters. As part of its long-term growth strategy, CSL is evaluating a Rs 150 billion greenfield investment to establish a state-of-the-art shipyard in Tamil Nadu in collaboration with a Korean partner. The first phase of the project is expected to generate nearly 10,000 jobs—comprising 4,000 direct and 6,000 indirect opportunities—and may include a modern ship repair facility.