November 03, 2025: Mumbai is set to emerge as a global shipbuilding hub, with new initiatives poised to put “Made-in-Mumbai” ships and passenger transport boats on international waters. Maharashtra will soon have dedicated facilities for ship design, construction, shipyard development, and manpower training to strengthen waterways across the Mumbai region and the Konkan coast.
Among the Rs 55,719-crore worth of MoUs signed at the India Global Maritime Summit, key players such as Candela Technology, Chowgule & Company, and Synergy Shipbuilders will establish advanced shipbuilding and maintenance facilities in Maharashtra. State Port Development and Maritime Minister Nitesh Rane said Candela’s facility will focus on passenger water transport vessels, while Echandia Marine’s battery systems for green ships and IIT Bombay’s training and design centres will give a major boost to the state’s maritime ecosystem.
Major expansions are also underway, with Adani and JSW developing Dighi and Jaigad ports, and international investors like Boskalis, Lai Investment, and Wan Hai committing around Rs 70,000 crore to build terminals at Vadhvan. Maharashtra has also signed an MoU with Abu Dhabi Ports Group and the Investment Resource & Presidential Office of Abu Dhabi, envisioning investments up to USD 2 billion in shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and sports management.
Over 600 MoUs worth Rs 12 lakh crore were signed during India Maritime Week 2025. “A surge of 41% from GMIS 2023 underscores India’s growing leadership in sustainable port-led development,” said Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, crediting the progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership.
The Shipping Corporation of India plans to expand its fleet to 216 vessels by 2047, while the Green Tug Programme aims to deploy 100 eco-friendly tugs by 2040, reinforcing India’s commitment to clean and self-reliant maritime growth.
Source: The Times of India
