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India Signs MoU for First Mega Greenfield Shipyard in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi

India has signed a tripartite MoU for the development of its first mega greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The project, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnage, was signed under the India-Republic of Korea maritime cooperation framework 'VOYAGES'. It is expected to generate around 15,000 direct jobs and boost India's shipbuilding sector. The initiative aligns with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aiming to make India a top global shipbuilding nation.

Key Points: India signs MoU for first mega greenfield shipyard in Thoothukudi

  • Tripartite MoU signed for first mega greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi
  • Envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnage
  • Project under India-ROK maritime cooperation framework 'VOYAGES'
  • Expected to generate 15,000 direct jobs
  • Aims to place India among top 5 shipbuilding nations by 2047
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India signs tripartite MoU for first mega greenfield shipyard in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi

India signs tripartite MoU for a mega greenfield shipyard in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, with 2.5M GT capacity, aiming to boost shipbuilding under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

"The signing of this landmark MoU marks a defining moment in our journey towards becoming a global maritime power. - Sarbananda Sonowal"

New Delhi, May 13

India has signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding for the development of its first mega greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi, with an envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnage, in a move aimed at strengthening the country's shipbuilding sector under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the MoU was signed on April 20 between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park, Tamil Nadu Limited and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited for setting up the shipyard in Tamil Nadu.

The agreement was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, to India.

The project has been taken up under the India-Republic of Korea maritime cooperation framework 'VOYAGES', launched following the meeting between Narendra Modi and Lee Jae Myung during the South Korean President's state visit.

The proposed shipyard is expected to serve as the anchor facility of the Thoothukudi Shipbuilding Cluster being developed by NSHIP-TN. The ministry said the techno-economic feasibility report has been completed, while preparation of the detailed project report is underway.

The project is expected to generate around 15,000 direct jobs after operations stabilise, apart from indirect employment opportunities in Tamil Nadu and nearby regions.

The ministry said the facility is expected to significantly increase India's shipbuilding capacity, as the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 aims to place India among the top five shipbuilding nations globally, with a targeted output of 4.5 million GT per annum by 2047.

Speaking on the development, Sonowal said, "The signing of this landmark MoU marks a defining moment in our journey towards becoming a global maritime power."

He added, "This partnership under the 'VOYAGES' framework will bring world-class technology, scale, innovation and green shipbuilding capabilities to India."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
This is exactly the kind of partnership we need—Korean expertise combined with Indian execution. The 'VOYAGES' framework name is quite interesting too. But I have a small concern: will the local workforce get proper training for modern shipbuilding techniques? We don't want to end up with just cheap labour while Koreans take all the top positions.
S
Suresh O
Great initiative but I'm skeptical. We have so many 'mega' projects announced—remember the semiconductor fabs, bullet train, etc. Let's see how fast this moves. Tamil Nadu has the industrial ecosystem to support this, but state government cooperation is crucial. Hope the DPR doesn't take years like some other port projects.🤞
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Priya S
This is a smart diplomatic move too—deepening ties with South Korea while building strategic maritime infrastructure. But I wonder about environmental impact. Thoothukudi already has industries like Vedanta. We need to ensure green shipbuilding actually means clean air and water for local communities, not just a marketing term.
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Vikram M
India's shipbuilding capacity has been pathetic compared to China, Korea, Japan. Finally catching up! The 2.5 million GT capacity is no joke—that's around 100 large ships per year. But where will the steel come from? We already import a lot of specialty steel. Need to build the entire supply chain, not just the shipyard. 🚢
T
Tanya I
As someone from Tamil Nadu, I'm excited but also cautious. Thoothukudi has suffered from industrial pollution before. The 'green' in greenfield must be real—not just a label

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