Landmark MoU Signed for India’s First Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi
The proposed shipyard will have an ambitious annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnage (GT), making it one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in India
India has taken a decisive leap toward becoming a global maritime powerhouse with the signing of a landmark tripartite MoU to establish its first mega greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
The agreement brings together global shipbuilding major HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park Tamil Nadu Limited (NSHIP-TN), and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
A Strategic Maritime Milestone
The MoU was exchanged on April 20, 2026, in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the state visit of Lee Jae Myung to India.
This agreement is a key outcome of the India–Republic of Korea maritime cooperation framework ‘VOYAGES’, aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Massive Capacity, Jobs and Investment Push
The proposed Thoothukudi shipyard will have an ambitious annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnage (GT), making it one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in India.
- 15,000 direct jobs expected at full operations
- Significant indirect employment across Tamil Nadu
- Anchor project for the Thoothukudi Shipbuilding Cluster
The project has already cleared its Techno-Economic Feasibility stage, with the Detailed Project Report (DPR) currently in progress.
Powering Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
The shipyard will play a crucial role in achieving India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which targets:
- Top 5 global shipbuilding nations
- 4.5 million GT annual shipbuilding output by 2047
With a single facility contributing 2.5 million GT, this project could dramatically reshape India’s shipbuilding landscape.
Building a Complete Maritime Ecosystem
Beyond shipbuilding, the project is expected to trigger a broader industrial transformation:
- Development of ancillary manufacturing clusters
- Localization of marine equipment supply chains
- Workforce skilling and global training opportunities
- Adoption of green and digital shipbuilding technologies
Notably, Indian professionals may receive advanced training at HD KSOE facilities in South Korea, boosting domestic expertise.
Rising Global Confidence in Indian Shipyards
India’s shipbuilding sector is already seeing growing global traction following the ₹70,000 crore policy push:
- Orders by CMA CGM at Cochin Shipyard Limited
- International contracts secured by Pipavav Shipyard
These developments signal increasing global confidence in India’s shipbuilding capabilities and green maritime technologies.
A Defining Moment
Calling it a “defining moment,” Minister Sonowal emphasized that the project will:
- Strengthen India’s global maritime competitiveness
- Generate large-scale skilled employment
- Position Thoothukudi as a strategic global maritime hub
