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Cochin Shipyard signed an MoU with South Korea-based HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) to build large vessels and scale up India’s shipbuilding game.
The deets: CSL’s new 310m dry dock will be used to construct huge oil ship - Suezmax tankers, container ships, and Capesize bulk carriers, with the ability to churn out six vessels annually.
To back this, a ₹3,700 crore block fabrication facility will be built on 80 acres in Kochi, adding 1.2 lakh MT capacity.
1.2 lakh MT capacity basically means the facility can handle about 1,20,000 tonnes of steel a year, roughly equal to the weight of 20,000 fully loaded elephants. 🐘
Why it matters: the company is breaking into a club dominated by South Korea, Japan, and China. By leveraging Korean expertise at home, Cochin Shipyard can build world-class tankers and cargo vessels that India otherwise imports.
It strengthens energy security & positions India as a serious player in the global shipbuilding market instead of just being a buyer.
Not stopping there: Cochin Shipyard also inked an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for a potential ₹15,000 crore greenfield shipyard.
Big theme: Shipbuilding in India is having a moment. Just yesterday, multiple PSUs inked fresh deals, from GRSE’s hybrid cargo vessels to SCI’s oil fleet MoU and now Cochin Shipyard’s Korean tie-up adds more muscle.
The push isn’t random. India carries 95% of its trade by sea, yet relies heavily on foreign yards for large commercial vessels. With defence modernisation, self reliance and rising global trade, the government is nudging shipyards to scale up.
