Joint Venture for Shipbuilding Facility at Kolkata Port

Mandovi Drydocks and Ripley Stevedoring and Shore Handling Pvt Ltd have formed a joint venture to establish a shipbuilding and repair facility at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, formerly Kolkata Port. The venture, set to lease 121 acres of port land for 30 years, will begin with an initial investment of Rs 200 crore. The facility will focus on building 6,000-8,000-ton ships initially, scaling up to larger vessels in the following years, with a total investment of Rs 2,000 crore expected across all phases.

The lease deal for the port land was finalized via a tender process, with the land expected to be handed over soon. Mandovi Drydocks currently operates facilities in various locations, while Ripley Group has a strong presence in stevedoring and port terminal operations. The joint venture aligns with India’s efforts to monetize major port land by leasing it to private shipyards for shipbuilding and repairs.

Last year, Cochin Shipyard Ltd inaugurated an international ship repair facility at Cochin Port, contributing to India’s ship repair capabilities. The growing private-sector participation in India’s maritime infrastructure is further emphasized by Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat, inviting bids for land to develop an integrated shipbuilding cluster. This joint venture underscores the continued development and expansion of India’s maritime industry.

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