GoAP and VPA Sign MoU to Establish National Mega Shipbuilding Cluster

24 Sep 2025 CW Team

In a major step towards making India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) and the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the National Mega Shipbuilding Cluster at Duggirajapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The MoU was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent event on transforming the maritime sector in Bhavnagar.

Project Overview

The initiative aims to provide globally competitive shipbuilding infrastructure and foster an integrated maritime ecosystem. Under the MoU:

GoAP will execute roads and other civil works on the land side and contribute land as equity.
VPA will manage all seaside works.
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed to implement the project in partnership with global private shipbuilding companies.

The project has an indicative outlay of Rs 292.53 billion and envisions a world-class commercial shipyard ecosystem.

The MoU reflects a coordinated effort to position Andhra Pradesh as a global shipbuilding hub, aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. With multiple fishing harbours, existing shipyards, and a robust industrial ecosystem, the state is strategically placed to anchor this ambitious cluster.

News source: The Hindu

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