Kochi: India is setting its sights on becoming a global hub in technology-driven shipbuilding, which includes autonomous vessels, electric ships, eco-friendly green ships and state-of-the-art small craft. Over the past 15 years, Cochin Shipyard, a central public sector shipbuilding company based in Kerala, has made remarkable strides in this field.

Now, building on this model, both private and public sector shipyards aim to transform India into a next-generation manufacturing centre for high-tech vessels. As part of this vision, India will set up a dedicated national pavilion at this year’s edition of Nor-Shipping, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious maritime industry expos.

The Union government believes that if maritime sector institutions work together, the industry can grow in a cluster-based model. Specialised vessels typically command a much higher value than conventional ships, offering great potential for value addition if India advances in this niche.

Norway, one of the countries with the highest number of ships, is already a major client. Indian companies, including Cochin Shipyard, have secured substantial contracts from there, alongside orders from other European markets. India has also begun manufacturing advanced coastal vessels (short sea vessels), each costing around ₹100–150 crore. More than 75 such vessels are currently in the pipeline.

There is substantial opportunity for India to lead in the specialised shipbuilding segment. Participation in Nor-Shipping is expected to pave the way for major investment in the sector.

“India has already secured several contracts in this area. Of these, 22 are with Cochin Shipyard Group. Four vessels intended for installation and maintenance work at offshore wind farms in European inland waters are being built at Cochin Shipyard. This contract alone is worth ₹2,100 crore. As India emerges as a hub of excellence in this field, we expect orders worth thousands of crores in the coming years,” said Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard.

Cochin Shipyard has also built short sea vessels at its Udupi shipyard.

India at Nor-Shipping

Nor-Shipping, one of the largest global expos in the maritime industry, will be held in Norway from June 2 to 6. Held biennially, this European expo will see a strong Indian presence this year.

For the past two decades, Cochin Shipyard has been a regular participant at Nor-Shipping. This year, under the leadership of the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Ports Association, India will mount a large-scale representation. The Indian delegation, led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, will include Madhu S Nair, CMD of Cochin Shipyard.

Over 100 participants from India’s private sector are also expected to take part in the event. Among them is Smart Engineering and Design Solutions (SEDS), a ship design firm based in Kerala.