Addressing the 10th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU), Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India’s growing focus on its maritime sector, linking national prosperity and security to the seas. He announced plans to scale up investment in maritime infrastructure to ₹80 lakh crore (over $90 billion).
A major component of this expansion is a new shipbuilding hub in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, capable of constructing naval warships, cargo ships, and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) that can transport nearly two million barrels of crude oil. The hub is being developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), which have signed MoUs with the Tamil Nadu government to invest ₹30,000 crore ($3.4 billion). A Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlining technical, financial, legal, and environmental aspects will be prepared.
CSL, builder of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, has extensive experience in constructing both naval and commercial vessels. MDL is known for manufacturing Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, as well as the French-origin Scorpene diesel-electric stealth submarines used by the Indian Navy.
Sonowal also noted India’s rising presence in global seafaring, with the number of Indian seafarers growing from 1.25 lakh a decade ago to over 3 lakh today, ranking the country among the top three globally. He emphasized the need for domestic shipbuilding, pointing out that only about 5% of India’s export-import cargo is carried on Indian-flagged vessels, resulting in ₹6 lakh crore being paid annually to foreign shipping services.
In addition, the Minister inaugurated the Rs 305 crore India Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) at IMU’s Visakhapatnam campus. The centre will support the development of the shipbuilding sector through shared facilities, research and development, skill training, and collaboration among shipyards, research institutions, and government bodies. It aims to create a knowledge-sharing ecosystem for India’s maritime industry.
