Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd have secured in-principle approval from the National Shipbuilding Mission (NSM) for the brownfield expansion of their shipbuilding facilities at Kochi and Pipavav, respectively, under the Government of India’s Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS).
As part of its expansion plans, state-owned Cochin Shipyard will establish a ₹4,000-crore block fabrication facility through a joint venture with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. The facility will be developed on land leased from the Cochin Port Authority adjacent to CSL’s flagship shipyard in Kochi.
Meanwhile, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd is planning to enhance its shipbuilding infrastructure at Pipavav by installing a second Goliath crane with a minimum lifting capacity of 600 tonnes and a new 40-tonne ELL crane, significantly strengthening the yard’s heavy-lift capabilities.
The approvals form part of the Government’s ₹19,989-crore Shipbuilding Development Scheme, under which ₹8,261 crore has been earmarked specifically to support brownfield expansion projects at operational shipyards across the country.
Under the scheme, eligible shipyards can receive capital assistance of up to 25% of the approved project cost, subject to a maximum grant of ₹1,500 crore per shipyard. The financial assistance will be released in four milestone-linked instalments of 15%, 30%, 35% and 20%, while the remaining investment will be funded by the respective shipyards.
The National Shipbuilding Mission, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, serves as the nodal agency for evaluating, monitoring and sanctioning capital assistance for brownfield capacity expansion projects.
The scheme supports investments in infrastructure such as dry docks, slipways, ship lifts, floating docks, piers, jetties, cranes, block fabrication facilities, automation and digitalisation aimed at enhancing India’s shipbuilding capacity.
Only works initiated after receiving in-principle approval are eligible for financial assistance under the scheme. Existing shipyards incorporated and operational for at least three years before September 24, 2025, are eligible to apply.
The Government has set ambitious maritime targets, aiming to position India among the top 10 global shipbuilding and ship-owning nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047, with plans to increase ship ownership to 100 million gross tonnes (GT) and expand annual shipbuilding output to 4.5 million GT.
