Cochin Shipyard Limited Partners with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering for Strategic Collaboration

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has taken a significant step toward achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) to foster long-term cooperation in shipbuilding. The MoU was formalized during the “Samudra se Samriddhi – Transforming India’s Maritime Sector” event, inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on September 20, 2025, in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

The signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Port, 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, Chairman and Managing Director of CSL.

This collaboration aims to blend CSL’s established infrastructure and local expertise with HD KSOE’s cutting-edge technology and global experience, significantly boosting India’s shipbuilding capabilities. The partnership will leverage CSL’s 310-meter new dry dock, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on January 17, 2024, to build large vessels such as Suezmax tankers, container ships, and Capesize bulk carriers, with an annual capacity of up to six vessels.

To support this initiative, CSL plans to establish a dedicated Block Fabrication Facility (BFF) in Kochi, spanning approximately 80 acres, with an annual production capacity of 1,20,000 MT. The facility, requiring an investment of around ₹3,700 crore, was showcased during the event. It is expected to create approximately 2,000 direct jobs and generate indirect employment opportunities estimated to be two to five times higher in sectors like logistics, MSMEs, supply chains, and ancillary industries.

The partnership will also focus on joint shipbuilding projects at CSL’s existing facilities during the transition phase, while exploring new opportunities in areas such as greenfield shipyards, skill development, and innovative business ventures. By improving production efficiency and delivering advanced vessels, this collaboration aligns with national goals outlined in Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global shipbuilding hub.

In addition, CSL signed a second MoU with Guidance, the nodal agency of the Government of Tamil Nadu, to support the Government of India’s vision of developing shipbuilding clusters. The signing was attended by Shri Madhu S. Nair, CMD of CSL, and Dr. Darez Ahamed, MD & CEO of Guidance Tamil Nadu. As part of its long-term strategy, CSL is exploring a ₹15,000 crore greenfield investment to establish a modern shipyard in Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with a Korean partner. The first phase of this project is expected to generate around 10,000 jobs, including 4,000 direct and 6,000 indirect opportunities, and may include a state-of-the-art ship repair facility.