In a notable strategic move, Dutch dredging major Royal Boskalis BV has acquired a minority stake in the upcoming multipurpose port at Bhavnagar, Gujarat, becoming one of the three promoters in the project. This marks a rare instance of a global dredging contractor taking equity in an Indian port operating company.
The port is being developed by London-based Foresight Group, led by Founder and Executive Chairman Ravi Mehrotra, through a special purpose vehicle, Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. The SPV is majority-owned by Foresight, with the Padmanabh Mafatlal Group as the other key shareholder.
Confirming the development, Mehrotra stated that Boskalis has joined as a promoter and that the project is awaiting the signing of the port user agreement. “Once it is signed, we aim to complete construction within three years, with operations expected to commence by 2029,” he said.
Boskalis’ investment underscores growing global confidence in India’s maritime sector. The company has an established presence in the country, having executed major dredging and land reclamation works, including at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, India’s largest state-owned container gateway.
The Bhavnagar Port is designed as a multipurpose facility capable of handling containers, clean bulk, liquid cargo, chemicals, RoRo, and other commodities, positioning it as a key logistics hub in western India.
In a significant step toward developing container handling capacity, Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure had earlier signed an MoU with Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) for operating and maintaining a container terminal on the north side of the port. The terminal is expected to serve the logistics needs of Central Gujarat, the Dholera industrial region, and even extend connectivity to the National Capital Region.
A standout feature of the project is the construction of a state-of-the-art navigation lock, which is expected to rank among the four largest in the world. This critical infrastructure is designed to address the region’s complex tidal conditions and ensure efficient vessel movement.
According to Gujarat government officials, the advanced navigation lock and overall port design will position Bhavnagar as a future-ready maritime hub, enhancing operational efficiency, reliability, and global competitiveness.