<p data-path-to-node="4"><b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="0">NEW DELHI / PARADIP</b> — In a major expansion of India's maritime industrial framework, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has granted formal in-principle clearance for the establishment of five greenfield mega-shipbuilding and repair clusters across coastal states. Concurrently, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven critical capacity projects worth ₹427.80 crore at Paradip Port and executed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreements for deep-draft berth mechanisation valued at ₹1,580 crore.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_88d9dc108bc54167-154"><span data-path-to-node="5,0">The twin policy rollouts are engineered to eliminate critical quayside capacity bottlenecks, expand commercial vessel fabrication capacity, and advance national self-reliance goals outlined under the <i data-path-to-node="5,0" data-index-in-node="200">Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047</i> master plan</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647173997=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h4 data-path-to-node="7"><b>Greenfield Mega-Shipbuilding Clusters: Site Selection and Financial Incentives</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="8" id="p-rc_88d9dc108bc54167-155"><span data-path-to-node="8,0">Under the revitalized Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the ₹25,000-crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF), the five approved mega-clusters will be established in dedicated coastal economic hubs across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,2">. Each industrial node will integrate specialized dry docks, heavy gantry crane infrastructure, robotic block-welding workshops, and zero-emission hull coating bays.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647173997=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="9">Key features of the greenfield cluster rollout include:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Large-Scale Land and Waterfront Allocations:</b> State maritime boards and major port authorities have earmarked contiguous waterfront parcels ranging from 500 to 1,200 acres per cluster to accommodate shipyards capable of constructing Capesize bulkers, Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), and 15,000+ TEU containerships.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Component Localization Ecosystems:</b> Dedicated ancillary manufacturing zones within each cluster will house micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) producing marine-grade steel fabrications, electrical switchboards, automated propulsion units, and navigation electronics to raise domestic value addition past 60%.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0" id="p-rc_88d9dc108bc54167-156"><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Green Vessel Incentivisation:</b> Shipbuilders establishing facilities within these clusters can access enhanced financial subsidies covering up to 25% of baseline contract construction costs for green-propulsion vessels (LNG dual-fuel, methanol-ready, and battery-hybrid designs)</span><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,2,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647173997=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><h4 data-path-to-node="12"><b>₹1,580-Crore Paradip Port Modernisation &amp; Deep-Draft Mechanisation</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="13">At Paradip Port, the inaugurated projects and fresh concession agreements accelerate the complete automation of bulk cargo handling along the Bay of Bengal. The ₹1,580-crore mechanisation mandate encompasses:</p><ul data-path-to-node="14"><li><p data-path-to-node="14,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="14,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Berth Mechanisation and Draft Deepening:</b> Upgrading multi-purpose berths with continuous ship-unloaders, high-speed automated belt conveyors, and dust-suppression transfer towers capable of achieving handling rates exceeding 70,000 metric tonnes per day.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="14,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="14,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Capital Dredging to 18.5 Metres:</b> Enabling the terminal to dock fully laden Capesize bulk vessels without tidal holding delays or offshore lightering requirements.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="14,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="14,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Integrated Rail-Evacuation Loops:</b> Commissioning rapid-loading silos connected directly to Indian Railways' heavy-haul rail grid, facilitating seamless mineral evacuation from the hinterlands of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.</p></li></ul><h4 data-path-to-node="16"><b>Government and Industry Perspectives</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="17">Highlighting the strategic importance of the combined announcements, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated:</p><blockquote data-path-to-node="18"><p data-path-to-node="18,0" id="p-rc_88d9dc108bc54167-157"><span data-path-to-node="18,0,0">"India’s international trade is scaling at historic rates, yet the vast majority of our commercial cargo relies on foreign-flagged carriers and offshore maritime yards</span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,2">. By sanctioning five greenfield mega-shipbuilding clusters and fully modernizing strategic hubs like Paradip, we are building domestic tonnage capacity and optimizing quayside turnaround times</span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,3"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,4">. These investments ensure that our supply chains remain insulated from external freight shocks while turning India into a premier global shipbuilding powerhouse</span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,5"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1580951906="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1580951906="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,0,6">."</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647173997=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></blockquote><p data-path-to-node="19">Senior administrators at Paradip Port Authority added that the newly mechanised terminals will lower overall logistics handling costs by nearly 18%, providing a direct margin boost to domestic steel producers, mineral exporters, and coastal thermal energy supply chains.</p>