Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Guidance Tamil Nadu signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 19 September 2025 to explore and develop a greenfield shipyard on India’s eastern coast. The signing ceremony took place in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, and was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
The investment package for the shipbuilding project in Tamil Nadu is estimated at INR 300 billion, with MDL contributing approximately INR 150 billion. The facility is projected to create around 45,000 jobs, including 5,000 direct and 40,000 indirect employment opportunities, aiming to support regional economic growth.
Biju George, Director (Shipbuilding) at MDL, and Dr. Darez Ahamed, Managing Director and CEO of Guidance Tamil Nadu, were the key signatories of the MoU. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of MoPSW attended the event.
The planned shipyard is intended to enhance India’s shipbuilding capacity across defense and commercial sectors by providing advanced vessel construction capabilities. The initiative aligns with India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which focuses on modernising maritime infrastructure and shipbuilding practices.
Mazagon Dock currently has an order book valued at approximately INR 322.6 billion, comprising fixed-price contracts for naval vessels and submarines.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, specialising in the construction of naval and commercial ships. The company operates major shipbuilding facilities in India and has been involved in multiple naval and defence projects.
