Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is advancing India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a long-term strategic collaboration in shipbuilding. The MoU was exchanged during the landmark event “Samudra se Samriddhi – Transforming India’s Maritime Sector”, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 20th September 2025 at Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

The signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur, Jung Changin, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Business Management Division at Hyundai, and Shri Madhu S. Nair, CMD of CSL.

The partnership aims to merge CSL’s legacy, infrastructure, and domestic expertise with HD KSOE’s advanced technology and global experience, strengthening India’s shipbuilding capabilities. CSL’s 310-metre dry dock, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 17th January 2024, will be used to construct large vessels including Suezmax tankers, container ships, and Capesize bulk carriers, with an annual capacity of up to six vessels.

A dedicated Block Fabrication Facility (BFF) is planned at Kochi on approximately 80 acres, with an annual capacity of 120,000 MT and an investment of around Rs 37 billion. The facility is expected to generate about 2,000 direct jobs, with indirect employment estimated at two to five times higher across logistics, MSMEs, supply chain, and ancillary industries.

The collaboration will focus on joint execution of shipbuilding projects at CSL’s existing facilities during the transition phase while exploring opportunities in new business areas, greenfield shipyards, and skill development. By enhancing production efficiency and delivering next-generation vessels, the partnership aligns with national initiatives such as Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, supporting India’s ambition to become a global shipbuilding hub.

Additionally, CSL signed a second MoU with Guidance, the nodal agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu, to develop shipbuilding clusters. CSL CMD Shri Madhu S. Nair, MD & CEO of Guidance Tamil Nadu, and Dr. Darez Ahamed were present for the signing. As part of its long-term growth strategy, CSL is planning a greenfield investment of around Rs 150 billion to establish a state-of-the-art shipyard in Tamil Nadu with a Korean partner. The first phase is projected to create nearly 10,000 jobs—4,000 direct and 6,000 indirect—and may include a modern ship repair facility.