November 3, 2025

Mumbai is about to sail into a new maritime era! Imagine boarding passenger transport boats and cruises made right here in Mumbai, gliding smoothly across oceans. Maharashtra is gearing up with ship design, shipbuilding, shipyard setups, and skilled manpower training to boost waterways around the Mumbai region and the Konkan coast – plus international routes. A sparkling Rs 55,719 crore worth of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the recent India Global Maritime Summit are set to turn Maharashtra into a maritime superstar. Leading the charge are Candela Technology, Chowgule & Company, and Synergy Shipbuilders, who will build and maintain ships, giving the state a cutting-edge advantage. Nitesh Rane, Maharashtra’s Port Development and Maritime Minister, revealed the exciting part: "Candela's facility would be specifically for building ships for passenger water transport." On the green tech front, Echandia Marine will assemble batteries for eco-friendly ships, while IIT Bombay will offer ship design expertise and train manpower to keep Maharashtra ahead in the game. Even Goa Shipyard is coming onboard with a new setup in the state. Big players like Adani and JSW have signed MoUs to expand Dighi and Jaigad ports, boosting infrastructure. International giants such as Boskalis, Lai Investment, and Wan Hai want to invest a whopping Rs 70,000 crore to build terminals at Vadhvan. The maritime excitement doesn’t stop there! An MoU signed between Maharashtra’s minister Nitesh Rane and Abu Dhabi Ports Group along with Abu Dhabi’s Investment Resource & Presidential Office promises up to USD 2 billion investments across sectors like shipbuilding, ship-breaking, water transport, port infrastructure, and even sports management in Maharashtra. During India Maritime Week 2025, over 600 MoUs worth more than ₹12 Lakh Crores were inked, signaling a bright new chapter for India’s ambitions as a maritime superpower. Rane said these agreements reflect "the government's comprehensive vision for sustainable, technologically advanced, and investment-driven maritime growth," with shipbuilding and ship-breaking policies earning praise from international guests. Of the Rs 2.23 lakh crore MoUs focused on shipbuilding, India will get 437 new ships! This fleet includes vessels for the Shipping Corporation of India, Bharat Containers, green tugs, oil and gas carriers, and dredging boats. The government shared how the investments will break down: about 30% for port development and modernization, 20% for sustainability, another 20% for shipping and shipbuilding, 20% for port-led industrialization, and 10% for trade and business knowledge. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal hailed this massive growth: "A surge of 41% surge from GMIS 2023 underscores India's growing leadership in sustainable port-led development and its emergence as a key driver of the global blue economy. This is a direct result of our dynamic PM Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, which has transformed India's maritime sector into a beacon of global confidence and opportunity." In line with PM Modi’s initiatives, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) plans to grow its fleet to 216 vessels by 2047, investing ₹1 Lakh Crores and adding 10 million Gross Tonnage (GT). This will boost India’s maritime power worldwide. Supporting Make in India, Oil and Gas PSUs have launched 59 shipbuilding orders worth Rs 47,800 crore. This huge push will create jobs and strengthen local shipbuilding. Going green is a big theme: The Green Tug Programme aims to deploy 100 eco-friendly tugs by 2040, with an investment of around Rs 12,000 crore. This supports India’s move to cleaner maritime transport. Plus, the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) is upgrading its fleet with 11 new dredgers to improve coastal infrastructure and operations. Mumbai and Maharashtra’s maritime future looks dazzlingly bright with these giant strides in shipbuilding, green technology, port expansion, and international investments. Soon, the waterways will come alive with Mumbai-made marvels sailing proudly across the oceans!

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Tags: Maritime Sector, Shipbuilding, Mumbai, Green Shipping, India maritime week, Port Development,