Gujarat to host 2 major maritime projects under key shipping ministry scheme: All you need to know

Gujarat may see two key maritime facilities built on its soil after the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) approved them in principle.

The two projects mark the shipping ministry's latest moves in line with the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS), which is a key part of its comprehensive September 2025 maritime package of Rs 69,725 to boost India's maritime prowess.

The SbDS has a total corpus of Rs 19,989 crore, and aims to develop greenfield shipbuilding clusters, expand and modernise existing brownfield shipyards, and establish an India Ship Technology Centre under the Indian Maritime University.

It offers greenfield shipbuilding clusters 100 per cent capital support for common maritime and internal infrastructure via a 50:50 Centre-State special purpose vehicle (SPV).

In that regard, the first project is a greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Kuchhadi in Gujarat's Porbandar district.

Once final approvals are in order, it will be built on 2,000 acres of land via the National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park-Gujarat (NSHIP-Gujarat), an SPV jointly promoted by the MoPSW and the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).

Comprising modern shipyards, ancillary manufacturing units, common infrastructure, and capability development centres, the new cluster aims to become a hub for the production of vessels in the 1.2-1.5 million gross tonnage (GT) category.

The second project is a Rs 1,570 crore ship repair facility at Vadinar that will be jointly built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), subject to final approvals.

The brownfield project, which aims to service vessels that measure up to 300m—the size of a typical Panamax ship—will expand on the existing Deendayal Port terminal at Vadinar, and will include a 650m jetty, two large floating dry docks, workshops, and associated marine infrastructure.

After securing approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on May 5 this year, the project may also get 25 per cent financial assistance from the MoPSW on eligible capital infrastructure.

"As we continue to build world-class capacity and advance the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, we are creating the foundation for a modern, efficient and future ready Indian shipbuilding and ship repair industry that is globally competitive, resilient and trade friendly," Union Minister (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, said in a statement.