VISAKHAPATNAM : In a strategic move to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading maritime hub, the Visakhapatnam-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has proposed establishment of a greenfield shipyard in the State.
The development was brought to the forefront during a high-level interaction between HSL Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram, and Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, at the Raj Bhavan.
The discussions centered on strengthening India’s maritime self-reliance. During the meet, the HSL chief highlighted the shipyard’s operational turnaround and outlined expansion plans aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Machilipatnam in Krishna district and Dugarajapatnam in Tirupati district have been identified as the potential locations for the proposed greenfield facility.
“Yes, as per the Centre’s directives, the greenfield shipyard is just a proposal by HSL as part of the company’s expansion and exploration plans,” an HSL official told The Hindu. Active shipyards
The domestic shipbuilding landscape is currently led by public sector undertakings alongside a few private players. Major shipyards include Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, which is the largest facility in the country, and Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, which specialises in warships and submarines.
Additionally, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited cater heavily to defence requirements. On the east coast, L&T Shipbuilding operates a major private facility at Kattupalli. HSL, established in 1941 in Visakhapatnam, remains the only defence public sector shipyard on the eastern seaboard.
Need for capacity boost
India currently accounts for less than 1% of global shipbuilding output. Under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the Union government aims to propel India into the top five shipbuilding nations globally by scaling up the domestic capacity to 4.5 million gross tonnage.
With nearly 95% of India’s trading cargo by volume currently carried on foreign-flagged vessels, expanding domestic commercial shipping is critical to saving foreign exchange. This goal requires the creation of mega-scale shipbuilding clusters, modern infrastructure to support green-energy vessels, and dedicated facilities to build high-capacity fleet support ships. The proposed greenfield shipyard in Andhra Pradesh is designed to address these capacity constraints, said HSL sources.
