Cochin Shipyard, Korea’s HD KSOE sign MoU to build large vessels; plans ₹15,000-cr Tamil Nadu shipyard

State-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a long-term strategic partnership to boost India’s shipbuilding capabilities.

The MoU was exchanged during the maritime sector event “Samudra se Samriddhi – Transforming India’s Maritime Sector”, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 20 at Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, CSL CMD Madhu S Nair and HD KSOE Senior Vice President Jung Changin were present at the signing.

The collaboration will leverage CSL’s infrastructure and domestic expertise along with HD KSOE’s advanced technology to build large vessels such as Suezmax tankers, container ships and Capesize bulk carriers.

CSL’s recently inaugurated 310-metre dry dock in Kochi will be utilised to construct up to six such vessels annually.

CSL announced plans for a dedicated Block Fabrication Facility (BFF) at Kochi, spread over 80 acres with an annual capacity of 1,20,000 MT. The ₹3,700-crore project is expected to generate about 2,000 direct jobs and several thousand indirect employment opportunities in logistics, MSMEs and ancillary industries.

CSL also signed an MoU with Guidance, the nodal agency of the Tamil Nadu government, to explore setting up a ₹15,000-crore greenfield shipyard in the state in collaboration with a Korean partner.

The proposed facility, which may include a modern ship repair unit, is projected to create nearly 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in its first phase.

The twin agreements are in line with the Centre’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, reinforcing the mission to position India as a global shipbuilding hub, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a statement.