Cochin Shipyard Ltd is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India. A view taken on Wednesday, June 10,2026. Photo: H. Vibhu/The Hindu
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
State-owned Cochin Shipyard has received orders to build over 40 ships from the U.S., Germany, Norway and other countries, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr. Sonowal said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is creating a comfortable ecosystem for shipbuilding.
“Most of the orders we are receiving for shipbuilding are for Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) from foreign countries like Germany, America, and Norway. So far, we have received orders for more than 40 ships,” he said.
A senior Shipping Ministry official said that some Russian entities have also shown interest in building ships in India, in collaboration with Indian shipyards, including Cochin Shipyard.
The Minister said Indian shipbuilders are earning credibility globally.
“That is the reason why we are getting this number of orders, and this reflects how India could generate confidence about its quality production, about its capacity building,” he added.
Responding to a question, Mr. Sonowal said during the second day of the 3rd ‘Sagarmanthan – The Ocean Dialogue’, he met a Myanmar minister, who informed him that coastal shipping in Myanmar is successfully running.
“So, that is why this Sittwe Port in Myanmar is very successfully operating,” he said.
The Minister also said he held bilateral talks with Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Bhutan to advance port investment, green shipping and regional connectivity, and Belgium has expressed its willingness to work with India to promote shipbuilding.
An official statement said that a delegation from the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Sonowal discussed its participation in Indian port projects such as Vadhavan and Galathea Bay.
“The two sides also discussed cooperation in shipbuilding, seafarer training and resilient supply chains.”
“Saudi Arabia expressed their interest in investing in India’s port projects and in the Maritime Development Fund (MDF),” it said.
The statement also said that during the second day of the 3rd ‘Sagarmanthan – The Ocean Dialogue’, VOC Port has signed an agreement with the Port of Antwerp Port for training in capacity building in green shipping and green fuel.
Over the last twelve years, India’s port capacity has risen from 1,561 to 2,817 MTPA, cargo handled from 1,052 to 1,668 million tonnes and inland waterways cargo from 29 to 218 million tonnes, while median container vessel turnaround has fallen from 35 to 23 hours.
Published – October 09, 2026 04:03 am IST
