Reforms in Maritime Sector Drive Landmark Shipbuilding Project
Reforms in Maritime Sector Drive Landmark Shipbuilding Project
New Delhi, 18 February 2026: India’s ongoing maritime sector reforms are translating into concrete outcomes in shipbuilding and green shipping, with the signing of a contract between global shipping major CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the construction of six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels, signed at an event held in New Delhi today.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur; Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, Mr. Rodolphe Saadé; Secretary, MoPSW, Shri Vijay Kumar, IAS; senior officials of the Ministry; and representatives of the partnering organisations.
The vessels will be constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi and will be registered under the Indian flag. The project adds to India’s commercial shipbuilding order book and reflects increasing global engagement with Indian shipyards under the Government’s policy framework for maritime sector development.
In a message on the occasion, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, said: “India and France share a deep and trusted strategic partnership — spanning defence, space cooperation, clean energy and Indo-Pacific maritime security. The presence of French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron in India on recent occasions further reflects the strength and maturity of our bilateral ties.
Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is advancing with a clear roadmap to become a leading maritime nation, driven by sustainability, innovation and global partnerships. The collaboration between CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited is a natural extension of this vision into the maritime domain.
It demonstrates the growing confidence of global maritime leaders in India’s shipbuilding capabilities and reinforces our commitment to building a strong, self-reliant and globally integrated maritime ecosystem.”
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur, said:
“This milestone has its roots in high-level strategic engagement. During the official visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji to France on 12 February 2025, he visited the CMA CGM headquarters along with the President of France. During that interaction, the Chairman of CMA CGM expressed strong interest — under India’s progressive shipping policy framework — in exploring the flagging of vessels in India and building new ships in Indian shipyards. Today’s agreement is the concrete outcome of that dialogue and shared vision.”
Following a series of meetings to finalise vessel specifications, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) executed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with CMA CGM for the design and construction of six feeder container vessels, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEU and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the LoI, CSL and CMA CGM worked towards finalising techno-commercial terms, leading to the formal shipbuilding contract.
