Mandovi Drydocks and Ripley Stevedoring and Shore Handling Pvt Ltd have formed an equal joint venture to establish a shipbuilding and repair facility at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (formerly Kolkata Port). The venture will lease 121 acres of port land for 30 years, with an initial investment of Rs 200 crore, multiple sources said.
The facility will focus on building 6,000-8,000-ton ships in its initial phase, later scaling up to 15,000 and 25,000-ton vessels within the first 5-6 years. Eventually, the partners aim to develop Panamax-size ships, with the total investment in the yard expected to reach Rs 2,000 crore across all phases.
The lease deal was finalized through a tender, and the land is set to be handed over in the coming days. Mandovi Drydocks currently operates facilities in Bicholim (North Goa), Rassaim (South Goa), and a 100-acre shipyard in Dabol, Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Ripley Group, promoted by Swapan Sadhan Bose, has a strong presence in stevedoring, port terminal operations, and transloading at Haldia, Paradip, and Visakhapatnam ports. The group has also diversified into ship owning, operations, and management, with its shipping business housed under Dubai-based Panbulk Shipping DMCC, led by Shoumik Bose.
The project aligns with India’s push to monetize major port land by leasing it to private shipyards for shipbuilding and repairs. Last year, Cochin Shipyard Ltd inaugurated a Rs 970 crore international ship repair facility at Willingdon Island, Cochin Port, further strengthening India’s ship repair capabilities. The company is also exploring a new shipbuilding facility in collaboration with foreign partners.
Additionally, Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla, Gujarat) has invited bids for 2,000 acres of land on a 30-year lease to develop an integrated shipbuilding cluster, highlighting growing private-sector participation in India’s maritime infrastructure.
