Bhubaneswar: An informative seminar on shipbuilding at the Bhubaneswar Club, jointly organized by the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited and the Forum for River and Ocean Scientists and Technologists. The event highlighted a collective push toward establishing Odisha as a premier maritime hub through integrated planning, national policy alignment, and technical modernization. Dr.Prabodh Kumar Mohanty, President UCCIL chaired the meeting.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Shri Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industries, and Information and Public Relations, outlined the state government’s commitment to reversing India’s and Odisha’s historically minor role in global shipbuilding. He announced plans for a mega shipbuilding cluster designed to provide comprehensive infrastructure and supporting facilities for both large and small shipyards.
To ensure the success of the initiative, Shri Sharma emphasized the necessity of attracting an internationally reputed anchor yard to guide state-level efforts. Noting that global players are actively seeking opportunities within India’s expanding maritime market, he affirmed that Odisha will carefully select a partner aligned with its long-term objectives. Key local gateways including Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur ports were identified as essential facilitators providing crucial logistics and infrastructure support.
Opening the technical session, Shri Madhu S. Nair, retired Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Ltd, provided context on India’s position in global manufacturing. India currently ranks 16th worldwide, holding approximately a 0.06 percent share of the shipbuilding market, far behind leaders China, Japan, and South Korea.
To elevate the country into the top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and top five by 2047, the central government has structured a four-pillar support framework. This initiative includes a dedicated shipbuilding financing scheme, a maritime development fund, and plans for five mega maritime clusters across the nation. Notably, one of these mega clusters is slated for development on the banks of the Mahanadi river in Odisha’s Kendrapara district. Shri Nair reinforced the need for an anchor shipyard alongside sustained investments in specialized education and workforce training.
Commander Atul B. Killedar, Advisor to L&T Shipbuilders, addressed the practical and technical requirements necessary for executing these maritime targets. He detailed the range of potential construction profiles, encompassing naval, specialized, and commercial vessels. Successful execution, he explained, relies heavily on meticulous planning, build-strategy development, and the integration of robust basic and detailed design processes.
Shri Killedar emphasized that modern shipyards must adopt increasing levels of digitization and automation to stay competitive. Establishing a thriving industry ground-up requires adequate physical shipyard infrastructure, a broad ecosystem of local suppliers, a steady pipeline of skilled manpower, and a committed transition toward green shipping and sustainable shipbuilding practices.