State-owned defence shipbuilder Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) is planning to establish a new greenfield shipyard at Jaigad in Maharashtra, marking a significant step in expanding India’s shipbuilding capacity in line with the Government’s vision of making the country one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.
According to company documents, GSL has identified around 660 acres of intertidal zone (ITZ) land at Jaigad Creek for developing the proposed shipyard in partnership with the Maharashtra Maritime Board. The project is aimed at meeting the growing demand for indigenous construction of naval and Coast Guard vessels while easing the increasing workload at the company’s existing Vasco-da-Gama shipyard in Goa.
The proposed facility will be developed as a standalone, state-of-the-art shipyard featuring modern shipbuilding infrastructure, modular construction techniques, advanced marine facilities, digital yard systems and optimized material flow. The expanded infrastructure is expected to enable construction of larger vessels and significantly enhance production capacity.
As part of the project, Goa Shipyard is set to appoint Germany-based Inros Lackner SE as the consultant after the firm emerged as the lowest bidder by quoting ₹65 crore. The consultant will prepare the technical and financial feasibility study, master plan, detailed project report (DPR), phased implementation plan and cost estimates. It will also recommend funding models and prepare documentation required to secure financial support from government institutions and infrastructure development programmes.
The shipyard is planned with a strong focus on sustainability, incorporating green building concepts, renewable energy, solar power generation and rainwater harvesting while adhering to international shipbuilding standards and best construction practices.
Part of India’s Shipbuilding Expansion Drive
Goa Shipyard’s expansion forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen domestic shipbuilding following the ₹69,725 crore shipbuilding promotion package approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2025.
The package includes:
- ₹24,736 crore Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) to support domestic shipyards and encourage ship recycling.
- ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to provide long-term financing through a blended equity and debt model.
- ₹19,989 crore Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) for greenfield shipbuilding clusters, brownfield expansion, technology development and risk-related credit support.
Several public sector shipyards are simultaneously expanding their capacities. Cochin Shipyard Limited is pursuing expansion projects in Kochi, Kandla and Thoothukudi, while Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is evaluating facilities at Dighi in Maharashtra and Dugarajapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) is planning multiple brownfield and greenfield facilities, including projects in West Bengal and Gujarat.
Private sector players including Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding, Swan Defence & Heavy Industries and Titagarh Naval Systems are also investing in additional capacity, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is planning a mega greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Thoothukudi.
India has set an ambitious target of becoming one of the top 10 shipbuilding and ship-owning nations by 2030 and entering the top five globally by 2047, which would require increasing ship ownership to 100 million gross tonnage (GT) and expanding shipbuilding output nearly 40-fold to 4.5 million GT. (Source: ET Infra)
