Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to develop Greenfield Shipyard
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park-AP (NSHIP-AP) to establish a modern greenfield shipyard at Dugarajapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh’s Commitment to Shipbuilding Industry
In the presence of Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Capt. Jagmohan (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director of MDL, and Shri Praveen Adhithya C.V., IAS, Managing Director of NSHIP-AP, signed the MoU. Chief Minister Naidu affirmed Andhra Pradesh’s dedication to lead India’s vision of becoming one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047. He highlighted the state’s advantageous long coastline, strategic location, and industrial ecosystem as driving forces for growth in the maritime sector.
Development Plans for Dugarajapatnam Shipbuilding Cluster
The establishment of the Dugarajapatnam shipbuilding cluster, with MDL as the Anchor Shipyard, aims to position Andhra Pradesh as a significant shipbuilding hub. The project is expected to attract investments, ancillary industries, and create extensive employment opportunities in shipbuilding, marine engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and related sectors.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh envisions the creation of a greenfield Shipbuilding-cum-Port Cluster at Dugarajapatnam, with estimated investments of approximately ₹29,254 crore for the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Yard and ₹9,513 crore for the Port. MDL plans to invest around ₹15,000 crore over the next five to seven years, subject to necessary approvals, with the project anticipated to generate employment for about 45,000 individuals in the state.
Focus on Modern Shipyard Infrastructure
The proposed shipyard at Dugarajapatnam will have a design capacity of 1.2 million Gross Tonnage per annum, with provisions for future expansion based on market demands. It will cater to the construction of various commercial vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, and other specialized vessels.
Under the Government of India’s Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS), the shipbuilding cluster is being developed with NSHIP-AP, a Special Purpose Vehicle jointly established by the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board and Visakhapatnam Port Authority, identifying MDL as the Anchor Shipyard for the project.
The selection of MDL as the Anchor Shipyard is seen as a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s maritime development, with the project poised to create a robust shipbuilding and ancillary ecosystem at Dugarajapatnam. The Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board will facilitate the necessary land, infrastructure, and statutory clearances to ensure the timely progress of the project.
