HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the world’s largest shipbuilder and the shipbuilding arm of South Korea’s HD Hyundai, has begun discussions with the Government of India to establish a major greenfield shipyard at Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat, according to senior officials.
A team from HD KSOE is expected to visit Deendayal Port shortly to evaluate the 6,000-acre site at Veera, where the port authority plans to develop a large shipbuilding cluster with waterfront access. Officials said the Korean company has shown strong interest in the project.
The talks follow a “productive” meeting between an HD KSOE delegation and Vijay Kumar, Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in New Delhi. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation with Indian shipyards—including Cochin Shipyard Ltd—and boosting marine equipment manufacturing.
The engagement aligns with India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which aims to position India among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations. The government’s newly approved four-pillar shipbuilding policy—SBFAS, MDF, SbDS and a vessel demand aggregation and acquisition scheme—is intended to enhance manufacturing capacity, facilitate technology transfer, and expand partnerships under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The interest from HD KSOE comes soon after Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s high-level visit to South Korea in November. During the visit, Puri encouraged Korean shipbuilders to participate in India’s “sunrise” shipbuilding sector, noting that Indian energy PSUs spend $5–8 billion annually on freight and need about 59 vessels initially. He said India’s rising energy demand, combined with South Korea’s advanced shipbuilding expertise, creates a “compelling case” for long-term collaboration.
Puri highlighted that India imports over $150 billion worth of crude and gas annually—almost entirely via sea—yet only 20% of this cargo is carried on Indian-flagged vessels. With ONGC alone projected to require nearly 100 offshore and platform supply vessels by 2034, he said the demand for domestic shipbuilding is poised to surge.
Following Puri’s visit, the Indian government sent a proposal to HD KSOE offering guaranteed vessel orders from oil PSUs if the company sets up a shipyard at Kandla. Officials say the chances of the project materialising are “bright”.
In September, Cochin Shipyard Ltd and HD KSOE signed an MoU for long-term strategic collaboration. Under the agreement, Cochin Shipyard’s new 310-metre dry dock will be used to build large vessels such as Suezmax tankers, Capesize bulk carriers and container ships, with an annual capacity of up to six vessels. A dedicated 80-acre Block Fabrication Facility with a capacity of 1,20,000 metric tonnes and an investment of ₹3,700 crore is also planned at Cochin Port.
The collaboration will support joint shipbuilding projects, exploration of new business areas, development of greenfield facilities and large-scale skill development, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s shipbuilding ecosystem.
