India’s industrial and defence ecosystem is witnessing a surge in heavy fabrication capabilities, a critical backbone for constructing large technological modules, offshore structures, and complex naval systems. Over the past decades, several shipyards and engineering companies have developed state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, including massive modular workshops, high-capacity dry docks, and specialised equipment for precision manufacturing.
Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL)
Cochin Shipyard Ltd., spread across 170 acres, is India’s largest shipyard and a hub for heavy fabrication in the maritime sector. Its integrated ecosystem includes a Hull Fabrication Shop, steel stockyards, modular panel lines, and dedicated blasting, painting, and outfitting workshops. CSL’s hull shop can fabricate around 2,000 tonnes per month, supporting modular block assembly and pre-outfitting to shorten build cycles. Equipped with CNC plasma cutting machines, hydraulic presses, SAW welding booms, automated painting systems, heavy-lift gantry cranes, and advanced block transfer mechanisms, the yard handles complex projects ranging from merchant ships to naval vessels and offshore structures.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI)
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) is home to India’s largest dry dock, measuring 662m x 65m, capable of accommodating vessels up to 400,000 DWT, including VLCC, ULCCs and other large vessels. The dry dock is also Asia’s 4th largest and the world’s 7th largest in size. Besides vast shipbuilding infrastructure, SDHI is home to one of India’s largest fabrication sites – dedicated 2.41 Mn sq. ft. of covered shed, allowing fabrication all year round and located in a special economic zone. The annual steel fabrication of 144,000 T is more than all other Indian yards combined. The shipyard is home to the largest TTS Panel Line as well as the largest pipe shop capable of delivering 1,000 spools a day. It is also the only shipyard in India with a dedicated offshore yard (750m x 265m) for fabrication, erection & load out for offshore structures, cranes & heavy engineering modules (10,000 Tons capacity). This gives SDHI significant capability for fabrication and assembly of offshore oil & gas as well as Process Platforms, Yellow Goods and all types of Process Modules.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL)
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, headquartered in Mumbai, is among India’s oldest and most important defence shipyards. Its modernised Dockyard Road and Nhava facilities include dry docks, wet basins, and fabrication workshops. The Mazdock Modernisation Project introduced a Module Workshop and Cradle Assembly Shop, supported by a 300-tonne Goliath Crane. MDL’s facilities enable modular construction of warships, submarines, and other naval structures, integrating hull fabrication with outfitting, precision cutting, welding, and pipe shops. The Nhava yard expansion features a 600 by 60-metre floating dry dock and new fabrication halls to enhance capacity further.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE)
Operating across Main Works and the Rajabagan Dockyard, GRSE spans more than 31 acres with 550 metres of waterfront. The modern Module Hall allows fabrication of pre-outfitted blocks up to 200 tonnes. Multiple campuses enable concurrent project construction, supported by CNC cutting machines, welding stations, outfitting workshops, and heavy-lift systems. GRSE’s infrastructure allows the construction of frigates, corvettes, and patrol vessels, reinforcing its role as a leading defence fabricator.
L&T Defence
L&T Defence operates India’s largest private modular fabrication and shipbuilding facilities at Hazira (Gujarat) and Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu). The Hazira Modular Fabrication Facility spans 34,500 square metres, equipped with robotic welding stations, CNC cutting machines, and heavy welding systems. Kattupalli complements this with large-scale workshops and deepwater berths for naval and offshore structures. Both yards offer end-to-end capabilities, from defence ships and submarines to offshore platforms, with heavy-duty cranes, hydraulic presses, and covered modular halls enabling uninterrupted operations.
These leading players—CSL, SDHI, MDL, GRSE, and L&T Defence—have significantly strengthened India’s heavy fabrication landscape, providing the technological and industrial backbone to advance national defence and maritime priorities.
