Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Gujarat Shipbuilding and Repair Policy 2026 on Monday, positioning the state to become India's leading maritime manufacturing hub. According to a government release, the policy aims to create a globally competitive shipbuilding ecosystem that will strengthen Gujarat's role in achieving the vision of Viksit Gujarat 2047 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The initiative aligns with the Centre's Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme 2025 and Maritime Vision 2047, establishing a comprehensive framework for maritime development.
The policy envisages setting up two Integrated Mega Shipbuilding Parks with modern shipyard infrastructure, marine equipment manufacturing clusters, testing facilities, and logistics support. As reported by the government, these parks will increase Gujarat's shipbuilding capacity to more than 50 lakh Deadweight Tonnage (DWT). The total expected investment in the project is projected to exceed ₹27,000 crore, with the Centre approving a mega greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Kuchhadi in Porbandar district. This cluster will accommodate two to three world-class shipyards along with a network of ancillary industries, attracting private investment of around ₹23,700 crore.
According to the government release, common marine and land-based infrastructure worth around ₹3,300 crore will be developed with financial assistance from the Centre under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) and the Gujarat government. The common infrastructure will include breakwaters, floating cranes, heavy-lift ships, dredging facilities, harbour basin development, navigation channels, roads, electricity, water supply and other shared utility infrastructure. The Gujarat Maritime Board is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the Kuchhadi project, which will pave the way for its implementation. The integrated infrastructure is designed to substantially reduce project costs for investors, speed up implementation and improve Gujarat's competitiveness as a global shipbuilding hub.
To provide long-term certainty to investors, the policy offers waterfront concession and lease periods of up to 50 years for large shipyards capable of building vessels above 30,000 DWT (Deadweight Tonnage). Smaller shipyards with capacity below 30,000 DWT will get an initial concession period of 15 years, extendable up to 30 years based on performance. The policy allows development of commercially viable shipbuilding and repair yards through multiple models, including sites identified by the Gujarat Maritime Board, shipyards within private ports, shipyards within Integrated Mega Shipbuilding Parks (IMSPs), standalone proposals submitted by PPP players and standalone proposals by public sector undertakings (PSUs). Private port developers will be permitted to establish shipyards within their authorised waterfront areas.
The policy provides a wide range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to attract investment, including capital assistance, reimbursement of stamp duty, interest subvention, dredging assistance, subsidies for procurement from MSMEs, electricity tariff support and subsidies on water charges. Under the policy, new shipyards will receive capital assistance of 10 per cent of eligible fixed capital investment (eFCI), subject to a maximum assistance of ₹100 crore during the policy implementation period. For shipyards developed within IMSPs, the assistance will be 20 per cent of eFCI or a maximum of ₹150 crore, whichever is lower. The Gujarat Shipbuilding and Repair Policy 2026 will remain in force for five years and supersedes the Shipbuilding Policy of 2010.
