L&T has signed MoUs with two Norway-based companies for its shipbuilding facility located in Kattupalli, in North Chennai.
It signed a pact with Norway’s Ulstein Design & Solutions, which specialises in offshore vessel design and construction, to explore potential synergies and cooperation in commercial shipbuilding projects at Kattupalli, about 40 km from Chennai.
The MoUs were signed during a recent visit by a delegation led by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, to Norway.
Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President, Precision Engineering & Systems, L&T (under which shipbuilding is part), said that, the construction major also signed an MoU with DNV, covering multiple areas of collaboration including shipbuilding, offshore and maritime sectors, expansion of port infrastructure, energy systems, industrial solutions, smart infrastructure, sustainability, and other related solutions.
The order book of L&T Precision Engineering Systems stood at about ₹34,000 crore as of March 31, 2025. Over the next decade, the company will undertake augmentation of infrastructure at Kattupalli based on future business requirements, he said.
The Kattupalli facility encompasses a shipyard and a modular fabrication facility. It serves as a hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and the fabrication of modular components for oil and gas projects, including offshore platforms and subsea pipelines. It is equipped with an automatic blasting and priming line, plasma cutting machines, advanced hydraulic press/forming machines, and large assembly workshops with heavy material handling facilities.
L&T Shipbuilding has been associated with the design, engineering, and construction of India’s first nuclear-powered submarine. Its shipbuilding portfolio includes frontline warships, frigates, destroyers, corvettes, and submarines. With a focus on offshore vessels, chemical tankers, and other high-technology vessels, L&T Shipbuilding’s capabilities cover a wide range of vessels for clients worldwide, according to its website.