V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority has invited bids to appoint a consultant for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed 2,500-acre greenfield shipbuilding cluster near Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
The DPR is expected to establish the project’s technical configuration, infrastructure requirements, investment needs and implementation framework. The consultancy marks a key step toward developing the large-scale shipbuilding and ship-repair ecosystem planned in the region.
The proposed cluster is being developed through a partnership involving VOC Port Authority and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT). A dedicated special-purpose vehicle, NSHIP-TN, has been established to facilitate the project’s development.
The project has been associated with a proposed investment of around ₹38,000 crore and an annual shipbuilding capacity of approximately 2.5 million gross tonnes. It is also expected to generate significant direct employment while supporting a wider network of maritime suppliers and ancillary industries.
The development gained further momentum earlier this year when HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), NSHIP-TN and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd signed a tripartite memorandum covering development, financing, construction and operation of the proposed shipyard.
HD KSOE, the shipbuilding arm of HD Hyundai, is expected to contribute shipbuilding expertise, technology and access to an international maritime supply chain. However, the proposed facility remains at the planning and development stage, with the DPR required to establish the project’s detailed technical and financial parameters.
For VOC Port and Tamil Nadu, the shipbuilding cluster is intended to strengthen the state’s position in India’s maritime manufacturing sector and create a major industrial hub around Thoothukudi. The DPR process will now provide the basis for subsequent approvals, financial structuring, engineering and construction decisions.