Landmark contract signals India’s entry into global commercial shipbuilding arena.

Cochin Shipyard Bags $360 Million LNG Shipbuilding Deal from CMA CGM

State-owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd has signed a $360 million shipbuilding contract with French shipping major CMA CGM Group, marking a major milestone for India’s shipbuilding sector. The agreement involves the construction of six state-of-the-art LNG-powered container vessels of 1,700 TEU capacity, to be built entirely in India. The contract was formally signed by CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé and Cochin Shipyard CMD Jose V J in the presence of government officials. Technical cooperation and design support will be provided by Korean firms, including Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and Korea Maritime Consultants Co Ltd. The project is supported by the Government of India’s Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, under which Cochin Shipyard will receive around 23–25% of the contract value as a subsidy. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 36 months, followed by two ships annually, positioning India as a credible alternative to established shipbuilding hubs like China, South Korea, and Japan.