Why Tamil Nadu ?
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Tamil Nadu is emerging as India’s leading shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing hub, strategically positioned with access to both the eastern and western coastlines. The state’s shipbuilding ecosystem encompasses design, construction, repair, and component manufacturing, supported by modern ports, skilled engineering talent, and robust industrial linkages with the steel, machinery, and electrical sectors. Key hubs, such as Chennai, Thoothukudi, and Cuddalore, are fostering shipyard clusters, dry docks, and marine fabrication facilities, anchored by major players and MSMEs. With global partnerships and growing demand for coastal and offshore vessels, Tamil Nadu is rapidly expanding its presence in commercial and offshore structure capabilities. The state is also promoting specialized maritime industrial clusters, workforce training, and sustainable ship technologies to position itself as a vital node in India’s blue economy and global maritime value chain.
Second largest coastline in India (~1069 km) with 2 greenfield shipbuilding clusters and 1 brownfield cluster.
Greenfield clusters are offered with all common infrastructure (both seaside and landside) like dredging, breakwater, reclamation, water, power, and multi-modal connectivity.
3 major ports and 14 non-major ports, contributing to the growth of the economy.
Thoothukudi is one of the three recognized green hydrogen hubs in the country with a planned capacity of ~5 MMTPA.
Home to specialized maritime educational institutions like IIT Madras (Ocean Engineering), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), AMET University, Indian Maritime University (IMU), Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training (HIMT), Welding Research Institute (WRI), and Coimbatore Marine College, generating skilled workforce for ship design and marine engineering.
Dedicated Tamil Nadu Maritime Transport Manufacturing Policy (2025) promoting investment, skill development, and R&D for maritime manufacturing and shipbuilding.
L&T Shipyard
Kattupalli Port | Kamarajar PortChennai PortCuddalore Brownfield Port
Cuddalore Shipbuilding ClusterThoothukudi Shipbuilding ClusterV. O. Chidambaranar Port
Tamil Nadu Industrial Policy 2021
Prabakaran A S
prabakaran@investtn.in
Nanda Gopal
nandha@investtn.in
Sanjay Krishna A
sanjay@investtn.in
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